TheX Factor
Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota and the premier developer of hockey players in the state. With over 67,000 registered players and coaches, it is the largest state governing body for amateur hockey in the United
Inside the Wild lockeroom
Culture goes beyond rink
Roughly 70 percent of hockey takes place on the ice. The other 30 percent? That’s off the ice.
While you might think we’re referring to off-ice training and conditioning space – and sure, that’s a part of it, too – we’re actually talking about the learning space. The place where you might argue the most can be learned.
The locker room.
“As a 10, 12, 14-year-old kid, I couldn’t wait to get to the locker room to see my buddies,” recalled Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin. “And then we’d go play hockey.
“I was fortunate to have some great guys who I’m still friends with, guys I played hockey with at 5 years old, 10 years old, and it’s just because we had great experiences. It can last a lifetime, and that stems from the adults and experiences that you create in places like the locker room.”
Call it a locker room. Call it a dressing room.
Call It a Safe Space
The inside of a locker room is designed to be a place where every player and person feels comfortable and accepted. That starts with respect for one another.
“The locker room is supposed to be your safe place,” Wild captain Jared
Spurgeon explained. “You go in there, you’re part of a team. Even if your interests don’t align or you’re not the best of friends, you still have to treat each other with respect.
“You’re on the same team, so you’re going to see each other day in and day out, so you have to be cordial. Whether it’s talking to each other or doing stuff outside the rink together. You don’t have to change the person you are, but you always have to respect every single teammate. And I think that brings the trust and respect on the ice as well, where you’ll do anything for your teammate; just know that who you have beside you is going to be there.”
Spurgeon adds that part of creating that safe space is reaching out and making sure every player feels welcome.
“The nice thing about having a locker room is they’re all different voices, different views, and as long as they’re coming from a good place where you’re not trying to segregate a certain group of teammates or single person, they’re all going to be listened to and respected. I think having a voice in the locker room is big, whether it’s feeling comfortable walking in so you can be yourself or having that voice where, when you’re going to speak up, you have the confidence to do so and know that no matter what you say, you’re going to have the backing of your teammates.”
Lift People Up
In the locker room is where you’ll have the first liner stall next to a scratched player. Or maybe a penalty
killer and the No. 1 power play forward.
“Every player is such an important part of the team,” Spurgeon said. “I think hockey is one of those sports where you can have those superstars, but you still need everyone. Those guys can’t play the whole game, and whether it’s a guy that is on the penalty kill or the guy wins the faceoff for you at the right time, there’s all these little skills that go unnoticed to the everyday fan, and it’s tough because everyone likes the flashy points and all the goals and stuff like that, but there’s a lot more to hockey and a team than those things.
“It’s those things that guys can contribute to you guys really getting to that point where you’re at the top over those other teams. So just cheering for a guy when he does something really simple or just coming over and giving a tap on the pad saying ‘Good job’ can really change the mood of the player.”
With that, Guerin reminds it’s about lifting one another up rather than harping on a bad shift.
“A lot of times, I think people think of leadership and culture, and stuff like that is about holding each other accountable by yelling at them or being hard. It’s not,” said Guerin. “It’s about support and bringing each other up. When someone’s down, can you lift them up and not keep piling on?
“Good environments, positive environments like that preach the right things. I was always preached about character, hard work and being a good teammate. Being a good teammate doesn’t cost you anything. The more we
preach stuff like that, the better experience they will have with hockey, and that’s the most important thing. Most of them won’t play college or professional, but you want them looking back on their youth hockey years with positive memories.”
Life Lessons
A locker room largely embodies one of the most important reasons we sign kids up to play youth sports: to learn life lessons.
“They’re children. They’re not professional athletes,” reiterates Guerin. “The lessons you learn playing team sports will take you far in anything. It’s being able to work with other people, people that might not agree with you, people that might look differently, that have a different upbringing or different background or whatever – it teaches you all of those things. And it teaches you how to problem-solve. It just teaches you so many things that will help you in life.”
And mom, dad, coach – it’s up to you to make sure those lessons are learned by helping foster a positive culture.
“Culture in the locker room for young kids, in the team but in the organization and in hockey in general, but it stems from the adults,” said Guerin. “We can’t leave it in the kids’ hands to figure out culture because it’s a hard thing to build. I think that’s what it boils down to: treatment of other people. If we do that, we’ll not only get a few good hockey players out of it, but you’re going to get some really great kids.”
Five golden rules to a successful season
Whether a youth team or a pro one, few hockey teams can be successful without some semblance of structure, reasonable and achievable expectations and “rules of the road” that all involved must follow in order to stay on track.
“Setting boundaries and defining roles for players and parents at the start of the season gives all involved parties guardrails for the months that will follow,” said Ted Cheesebrough, Hamline University Men’s Hockey Assistant Coach and Assistant Coach of the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Team. “It’s an opportunity for coaches to stress the items that are important to them and which they feel are critical to the team’s success.”
Cheesebrough, who has on his resume more than 20 seasons of coaching youth and high school hockey, shared his top five “golden rules” that players and parents should understand and abide by to ensure a positive team culture and improve the team’s chances at accomplishing their goals.
1. Growth Comes from Mistakes
“Errors is a baseball statistic, but it’s not a statistic used in hockey because errors occur during every shift. Whether it’s a missed pass, a bad route, misreading a situation, or you simply catch an edge and fall, hockey is a game filled with errors. Don’t fret over every error or turnover. Instead, identify what went wrong, think about what could’ve been done differently and be ready to attack the situation again. Players frequently make mistakes
when they’re pushing themselves and when they’re on the margins, so it is on those margins where growth occurs. Understand that practicing your skating, passing, puck protection or certain situational play will lead to fewer errors, but you can never eliminate mistakes entirely. It’s how you deal with those mistakes, seek to correct them and keep moving forward that counts the most.”
2. Be Respectful, Be Ready, Be Willing
“Some tenets are the same every year: be a good listener, a hard worker, a generous teammate and a curious learner. Be sure to look your coach in the eye and listen when they are talking, whether that’s during practice, in between periods or in the locker room. Come to the rink ready to give 100% effort, especially at practice. You will touch more pucks, make more passes and take more shots in practice than you will in a game, so coming to practice with a can-do attitude and a positive work ethic is the best way to make yourself and your teammates better. Also, be willing to play every position. When a coach asks or needs you to play in a different position, embrace it. The wider variety of experiences and situations that you are placed in gives you a more diverse skill set and makes you more versatile, which will make you more valuable as you progress.”
3. Remember: Coaches Coach, Players Play, Officials Officiate and
Parents Support
“Coaching youth hockey requires commitment, people skills, tactical know-how, time management abilities, patience, resilience and a ton of time. Parents and players must value and treat them accordingly. This includes giving coaches the respect and space to do what they’re asked to do. I’d urge parents to support your sons’ and daughters’ coaches even when (and perhaps especially when) you might use a different approach or make another choice. Similarly, nothing good will come from parents undermining their kids’ coaches, be it to other parents or even their own children. Most of these coaches are volunteers, while those who might get provided a stipend definitely aren’t getting rich coaching youth hockey. So, find and focus on the positive things that your kids’ coaches do and be a source of support, not a source of negativity.”
4. Find & Maintain Proper Perspective
“Keep in mind that no one outside of the arena truly cares about the result of your youth hockey game. Whether it’s Bantam AA or an 8U Jamboree, if you stop at the convenience store on the drive home, it’s likely nobody there knows nor cares which team won. As such, players and fans must keep things in perspective during the game. That goes for how you treat your teammates, officials, opposing players and coaches and opposing fans.
The result should not significantly impact your life a day later or a month later, and most of the time, not even an hour later. It shouldn’t bog you down or dictate how you treat others. Everyone must keep their cool during a hotly contested game. This doesn’t diminish the importance or fun of youth hockey games. Games are rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling, and they teach life lessons. And, of course, they are fun. But keep youth hockey games in perspective.”
5. Be in a position to succeed before arriving at the Rink
“Parents can set their athletes up for success by ensuring that their skates are sharpened, they have the equipment they need, they’ve had something to eat, they’re bringing a water bottle and that they are getting to the rink on time. Players also have a responsibility to take care of certain things themselves. Players should check their own bag for all of their gear before they leave for the rink. Mom and Dad might help out the youngest players, but Peewees/12U and Bantams/15U are fully capable of making sure that they have all of their equipment. Coaches talk about controlling the controllables and this is just another example of that. There is a universe of things that are outside of your control, but having your equipment packed, your skates sharp and leaving for the rink on time are all things within your own domain.”
Mercury Rising Bischoff climbing the ranks on scoring list
by BRYAN ZOLLMAN Let’s Play Hockey Publisher
When the puck drops for Green Rapids/Greenway, Mercury always rises.
Mercury Bischoff is the top-scoring senior this season, recently eclipsing 300plus points for her career. She bodes a hockey name from hockey central Grand Rapids, and over the past six years has gone form a young star to a senior scoring wizard.
“It’s been quite a ride,” said Grand Rapids/Greenway Head Coach Brad Hyduke. “From a young and renowned phenom to a mature, stoic and dominant senior.”
Bischoff burst onto the scene as a seventh grader and averaged more than a point a game. In her eighth-grade season she scored 31 goals in 20 games. As a freshman she netted a career high 49 goals and followed up with 44 more as a sophomore. Last season she had 39 and should eclipse 200 career goals be season’s end.
Hyduke, who keeps a keen eye on his youth program, remembers when Mercury was a squirt playing with boys.
“I watched her play two years of Squirt A as one of the better players in that 2025 class, boy or girl,” he said. “After a first very good year of Peewee AA it made sense for her to transition to the girls game.”
Bischoff’s transition was as smooth as her skating.
“She has elite edgework and deception in her skating with head and shoulder fakes,” said Hyduke. “I have never seen a girls player and few boys players as elusive and slippery as Mercury. She can often evade defenders or double teams with effortless change of direction.”
Elite skating goes best with hockey smarts, and Hyduke said Bischoff is an “A” student when it comes to that.“Her hockey IQ and ability to understand the game a play or two ahead of opponents might even be her greater skill,” he said.
She also carries a hockey name, but those who think her dad was a former Gopher great would be wrong. Mercury is a distant cousin of Grant Bischoff and his son, Jake, who both went on to play for the Gophers and Jake in the NHL.
Mercury will instead take her talents down Highway 169 to Minnesota State. Her older brother, Hunter, is currently playing at Augustana. Hyduke said Mercury watching Hunter work hard to succeed has helped her excel.
“His work ethic and focus left an impression with Mercury on how to take
Mercury Bischoff has reached 300 points in her career and is closing in on 200 goals.
care of the ‘business’ side of being a hockey player,” said Hyduke.
While Mercury has lit the lamp often in her career, she and her fellow Lightning players rely on each other for team success. They are currently a top 20 team in the Let’s Play Hockey rankings and will look to make noise Section 7AA where they hope to eclipse perennial winner Andover.
“We return most of our offense once power forward Kylie DeBay returns from a soccer injury in December,” said Hyduke. “In the meantime, the team is benefiting from the depth of players who have skated in numerous 12UA and 15B state tournaments, including a 15B state championship last year.”
As for Bischoff , her high school career is coming to a crescendo, but she will have more hockey to play at the next level when she attends Minnesota State. Hyduke thinks her game will transition well if she continues to work on areas of improvement.
“As a coach, I have been honest with Mercury about where she needs to improve, and beginning with recently being overlooked by USA Hockey for more conventional, pigeon-hole type skill
"Off the ice, and in practice, Mercury puts the work in and sets an example for how to prepare your mind and body to play at a high level.”
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players -- she has dedicated her offseason to a personal trainer and building explosive starts, increased stamina and higher top-end speed -- the early returns are a success as she is reaching new heights in her abilities,” he said. “Creating space for herself and more goal scoring opportunities are a direct result of the new work she has put into speed and strength.”
That work has also transcended to the younger girls coming up through the Lightning program.
“Mercury transcends hockey in our community,” Hyduke said. “She knows her place as a role model that people, kids
and adults alike, gravitate to watch -- even opponent coaches and players regularly gawk at her abilities and on-ice presence. Off the ice, and in practice, Mercury puts the work in and sets an example for how to prepare your mind and body to play at a high level.”
In addition to raising her goal total, Mercury is raising the hopes of those who look to one day wear the Lightning uniform. She has carved a path that shows dedication and a love for the game can bring a girl to new heights.
Section Breakdowns - Team By Team
Section 1A
Dodge County Wildcats
Head Coach (Years Coaching): 17 years, Jeremy Gunderson Section: 1A Conference: Independent
2023-24 record: 23-5
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Nora Carstensen – F – Senior – 35-23-58; Maysie Koch – F – Sophomore – 25-25-50; Mollie Koch – F – Senior – 16 – 22 –38; Ida Huber – G –Senior – 22W-5L – 1.44GAA - .906SV%
Season Expectations: Dodge County comes off a second place finish at the Class A State Tournament and graduated four seniors. With the majority of the team coming back, the expectation for the season is make a deep run at the State Tournament again. Dodge County will be led in net by senior Ida Huber, a Division One commit to Long Island University. The strength of this team will again be the
Albert Lea Tigers
Head Coach: Mike Carlson Section: 1A Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 19-7-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Morgan Goskeson – F/D –Sophomore – 41-13-54; Hanna Austinson – C/W – 12-26-38; Mika Cichosz- D – 22-14-36; Jayda Moyer – G – 12 –1.20GAA - .94SV%
Season Expectations: Albert Lea’s strength will be their defense this season and they will also be returning five letter winners. They will be led by senior goaltender, Jayda Moyer as well as sophomore stud, Morgan Goskeson, who had 54 points last season.
Red Wing Wingers
Head Coach: Katelyn Hadler
Section: 1A
Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 6-19-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Peyton Nelson – F – Freshman – 2-7-9; Gabrielle Knowlton – F – Senior – 1-5-6; Amelia Grove – D –Junior – 0-4-4; AmberVogel – G – Junior – 3.69 - .881SV%
Season Expectations: The Wingers are in a rebuilding year as they lost their top fiver scorers from this past season. They will look for leadership from senior Gabrielle Knowlton and freshman Peyton Nelson who are their top returning scorers.
Simley Spartans
Head Coach: Tom Patnode
Section: 1A
Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 12-14-1
Top returning players (Position, Year,
G-A-PTS): Courtney Kurowski – F – Senior – 12-9-21; Ella Sanders – F –Junior – 11-7-18; Zoie Lang – F – Senior – 1-7-8; Sydney Ries – G – 2.43GAA.924SV%
Season Expectations: Simley will look for new players to step up on the offensive end this year as they have lost three of their top four scorers to graduation. Courtney Kurowski is their top returning scorer along with junior, Ella Sanders. Waseca Bluejays
Head Coach: Chas Benson Section: 1A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 10-11-3
PHOTO BY: BRYAN ZOLLMAN
Grand Rapids/Greenway Head Coach Brad Hyduke
– 6-8-14; Ilamay Draheim – G – Sophomore – 2.01 - .938%
Season Expectations: The Bluejays will be led by sophomore stud, Maizee Storey, who totaled 38 points this past season. She will look to improve with help from upperclassmen Katlyn Schueler and Madalyn Benson. This will be a more experience team as they only lost three players to graduation.
Winona/Cotter Winhawks
Head Coach: Rick Burns Section: 1A Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 11-15-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kasja Kovala – C – Senior – 11-9-20; Asta Griggs – D – 12 – 2-5-7; Briar Rouleau – F – Junior – 4-3-7; Aliya Gricius; Senior – 3.21GAA - .910%
Season Expectations: The Winhawks lost six players to graduation and will be led by seniors Kasja Kovala and Asta Griggs. Senior Aliya Gricius will hold things down in net as this team looks to improve upon on their record from last year and jump into a winning season.
Section 2A
Litchfield-Dassell/Cokato Dragons
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Brett Damerow and Matt Hogg (8 years) Section: 2A Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 13-13-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Stella Hillmann – D – Senior – 11-15-26; Lydia Schultz – W – Junior –12-14-26; Olivia Robertson – D – Senior – 7-11-18
Season Expectations: Litchfield/Dassell/ Cokato will bring back a strong core, led by a senior class of seven players. This group will backstopped by two outstanding senior goaltenders in Janelle Quast and Kira Kuechle. In front of them they have an experience laden defense in Stella Hillmann, Olivia Robertson, Brynn Lund, and Tayah Damerow. All of these players produce honest, stingy defense, while also having the ability to create on the offensive end. Their forward core will be led by senior center Gabby Robertson and junior winger Lydia Schultz. Both of these players have the ability to be dynamic playmakers. They also have a solid core of young forwards that include; Bella Struck, Ellery Cziok, Emma Grangroth, Paizli Johnson, Mya Iverson, Elaine Niemela, and Elly Woelfel.
Orono Spartans
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Two Years, Paul Antonenko Section: 2A Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 22-7-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Zoe Lopez – F – Senior – 9471-165; Macy Rasmussen – F – Senior –43-77-120; Maddy Kimbrel – F – Junior – 54-49-103; Vivienne Anderson – G –Sophomore – 1.61GAA - .928SV% Season Expectations: The Spartans have high expectations coming off their third place finish in the state last year. The Spartans return two of their three top scorers and a strong group of up and coming younger players who will need to step up and play some big roles for them as they will be missing Kali Schmidt for the season due to injury.
Hutchinson Tigers
Head Coach: Rustin Neuberger Section: 2A Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 12-14-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Addison Longie – F – Senior – 14-6-20; Kinley Miller – D – Sophomore – 1-16-17; Brooke Hauan – F – Junior – 3 -13-16; Kaiden Fitterer – Junior – 2.86 - .900SV%
Season Expectations: This team loses two out of their top four scorers from last season but will be led by senior Addison Longie who had 20 points last season. This team was a shy under .500 last year and will aim to bounce into the win column this season as they return a lot of experience to this years team.
Dodge County and Orono faced off in last year's semifinals at the state tournament. They are both top teams this season looking to get back to the X.
Mankato West Scarlets
Head Coach: Jeff Zimmerman Section: 2A Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 11-15-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Penny Gorman – F – Sophomore – 19-16-35; Marleigh Jordan – C/W – Senior – 12-14-26; Maleah Giesen – W – Sophomore – 14-10-24; Alayna Smith –G – Senior – 4.62GAA - .874SV%
Season Expectations: Mankato West returns majority of their roster from last season and will be led by sophomore, Penny Gorman, who totaled 35 points last season. They bring back experience in senior Marleigh Jordan and goalie Alayna Smith.
Minnesota River Bulldogs
Head Coach: Dustin Swenson
Section: 2A
Conference: Big South
2023-24 record: 13-13-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): McKenna Andresen – F –Sophomore – 13-14-27; Macey Portner –F – 11- 8-7-15; Noelle Simonette –Sophomore – W/F – 11-4-15; Annika Magelee – Junior – 2.26GAA - .903SV%
Season Expectations: Minnesota River finished at .500 last year but will be expected to be a threat in the section as they return a strong squad. They have a youthful team but are returning five of their top six scorers from last season. Their main strength will be their defense and goaltending with Annika Magelee in net.
River Lakes Stars
Head Coach: Andrew Marod
Section: 2A
Conference: Central Lakes
2023-24 record: 14-9-4
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Sophia Hess – W/F – Senior – 28-17-45; Abigail Storms – Junior – 17-16-33; Ayla McLellan – F – 12 –6-9-15; Kaydence Roeske – Senior – 1.76 - .938SV%
Season Expectations: River Lakes returns a majority of their team and will be led by senior Sophia Hess who had a whopping 45 points last season and goaltender Kaydence Roeske. This is one of the top teams in the section with a legitimate chance to make the state tournament this season.
Willmar Cardinals
Head Coach: Eric Setrum
Section: 2A
Conference: Central Lakes
2023-24 record: 21-9-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lauren Eilers – F – Senior –18-13-31; Avery Olson – C – Senior – 1315-28; Lily Jorgenson – Junior – 7-7-14
Season Expectations: Willmar is arguably the top team in the section alongside River Lakes. They are coming off a state tournament appearance but will need new blood to help propel them again as
they have lost nine members from last years team. A bright spot for them is that they are returning their top two scorers in seniors Lauren Eilers and Avery Olson.
Marshall Tigers
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Five years, Cassi Weiss Section: 3A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 17-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Brooklyn Mauch – F – Junior – 21-12-33; Abbey Foley – F - Junior –15-10-25; Kendal Beernaert – F – Senior – 4-9-13; Lily Stelter – G – Sophomore –15W-8L-1T – 1.66GAA - .904SV%
Season Expectations: Marshall is looking forward to another great season with a young group who is eager to put together another winning record. With a lot of their top players back and young ones covering where needed, they are looking forward to the upcoming season.
Luverne Cardinals
Head Coach (Years Coaching): First year head coach, three years assistant coach, Matt McClure Section: 3A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 17-12-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ellie VanBatavia – F – Freshman – 29-16-45; Tenley Behr – F – Sophomore – 20-14-34; Izzy Steensma – F – Sophomore – 12-18-30; Emma Saarloos – G – Junior – 17W-12T – 2.53GAA.879SV%
Season Expectations: Luverne has a lot to look forward to as they are coming off a successful season and returning with most of their top players. They finished our season strong and expect to continue that into the 2024-2025 season.
New Ulm
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Three years, Jeremy Reed Section: 3A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 15-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Mya Hornick – F – Senior – 14-15-29; Tristyn Wolner – F – Junior – 16-10-26; Madalynn Olson – F – Junior – 12-12-24; Ava Brennan – G – Senior –13W-10L-1T
Season Expectations: The Eagles will have a mix of veterans and youth this season. They expect to grow and develop throughout the season, with strong team defense, to put themselves in a good position come playoffs at the end of the season.
Fairmont Cardinals
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Eric Householder Section: 3A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 7-18
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Maia Goerndt – F – Junior – 13-6-19; Abigai Sundeen – F – Junior – 11-1-12; Francesca Martin – F – Sophomore – 2-8-10; Ilana Moeller – G – Senior – 7-18-0 – 5.13GAA - .878SV% Season Expectations: Fairmont will look towards their lowerclassmen to replace six graduating seniors from last years team. They will look to put together building blocks for the future and work towards getting themselves back in the winning column.
Windom Area Eagles
Head Coach: Matt Dockter Section: 3A
Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 11-15-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ella Dockter – F/D – senior – 7-11-18; Reagan Haugen – F – 6-5-11; Lyvia McManigle; Mataya Hall – D –12 – 3-5-8; Fiona Robillard – G – 11 –8-13-1
Season Expectations: Windom Area is replacing four seniors this season and will look towards newcomers to produce on the offensive end. The Eagles have lost four of their top six scorers from last year and will need to find new blood to replace that production.
Worthington Trojans
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Chad Nickel Section: 3A
Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 0-23-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Breeta Johnson – C – Freshman – 4-1-5; Madelyn Cummings – F –Sophomore – 1-2-3; Peyton Nickel – F/D – Senior – 2-1-3; Macie Mahlberg – G –Sophomore – 5.45GAA - .858SV% Season Expectations: Worthington will look to build off last years experience and string together some wins this season and build for the future of the program.
Blake Bears
Head Coach (Years Coaching): 12 Years, Kristi King Section: 4A
Conference: IMAC 2023-24 record: 5-20-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Addie Wethington – D –Sophomore – 1-10-11; Malika Chebaclo – F/D – Senior – 12-7-19; Callie Arthur –F – Sophomore – 7-6-13; Janie McGawn – G – Junior – 2.81GAA - .930SV%
Season Expectations: Blake has a solid amount of incoming players to balance with their returners. They have a solid foundation between the pipes and are looking for their power offense to score three plus goals a game. Their expectations are to have a winning record and to give themselves a shot at coming out of
PHOTO BY: BRYAN ZOLLMAN
4A.
Chisago Lakes Wildcats
Head Coach: Peter Smothers Section: 4A Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 10-17-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lauren Schmidt – F – Senior – 11-18-29; Allie Smothers – F – Junior – 7-15-22; Lexi Smothers – W/F – Sophomore – 12-9-21; Evi Reedy – Senior –3.63GAA - .836SV%
Season Expectations: The defense will be the strength of this team and they will look for leadership from senior goaltender Evi Reedy. They return most of their defense in Joee Westland, McKenna Borene, Grace Schulte and Naomi Eaton. Their top returning scorer is Lauren Schmidt who had 29 points last season.
Academy of Holy Angels Stars
Head Coach: Ryan LaMere Section: 4A Conference: Metro West
2023-24 record: 22-5-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Masyn Mullin – F – Senior – 15-20-35; Taylor Lesnar – D – Senior – 5-27-32; Harper Poehling – D – Senior – 9-16-25; Zoe Rimstad – Senior –1.61GAA - .93SV%
Season Expectations: The Stars are a top contender to win the section this season but will need to replace some offensive production as they lost their top two scorers from last season. Their top returning scorers are seniors Masyn Mullin and Taylor Lesnar. Senior Zoe Rimstad will hold things down in net as this team looks to make a deep postseason run.
Minneapolis Novas
Head Coach: Claire Goldsmith Section: 4A Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 6-17-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Olive Carlson – F – Freshman – 9-3-12; Sasha Grabow-Pinto – D – Freshman – 1-8-9; Riley McIntyre – F – Freshman – 3-4-7; Josie Meidel – G –Sophomore – 5.63 - .830SV%
Season Expectations: Minneapolis lost two out of their top three scorers from last season and their top three returning scorers are all freshman. This team will look to rebuild and gain some experience for their underclassmen.
South St. Paul Packers
Head Coach: Dave Palmquist Section: 4A Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 17-10
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lily Pachl – D – Senior – 27-36-64; Alida Ahern – F – Senior –29-17-46; Bailey Vesper – W – Senior –15-31-46; Reagan Tracy – G – Freshman – 2.26GAA - .904SV%
Season Expectations: South St. Paul is arguably the top threat in this section and have won it two out of the past three years. They return a deep roster along with their top three scorers in seniors Lily Pachl, Alida Ahern and Bailey Vesper. This team will be a force and is looking to make a return to the state tournament this season.
Visitation Blazers
Head Coach: Ellie Tabaka Section: 4A
Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 3-22-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Gracia Munoz – F – Senior – 12-4- 16; Rowan Murphy – F – Sophomore – 2-6-8; Abigail Hemauer – F/D – Junior – 2-2-4
Season Expectations: Visitation returns majority of their team from last year and will look to build off their experience from last year in order to stack more wins this season. They return their top two scorers in Gracia Munoz and Rowan Murphy.
Breck Mustangs
Head Coach: Tricia Luoma
Section: 5A
Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 19-8-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Taylor Hall – C/W – Freshman – 15-20-35; Alexis Ulrich – D – Freshman – 11-18-29; Mackenna Schlieman – F – Freshman – 11-10-21 – Brynn MacKinnon – G – Sophomore –1.67GAA - .925SV%
Season Expectations: Breck is one of the top teams in the section but lack some experience. They return three out of their top four scorers, all of whom are freshman. Sophomore goalie Brynn MacKinnon will start her first full season in net after losing senior goaltender Mackenzie Abbott.
Delano/Rockford Tigers
Head Coach: Lance Reynolds Section: 5A
Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 16-11-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kayleigh Olson – F – Senior – 13-19-32; McKenzie Perry – F – Senior – 20-11-31; Alaina Pettit – F – Junior –6-12-18; Savannah Geyen – G – Sophomore – 1.38GAA - .949SV%
Season Expectations: The Tigers are coming off a winning season and have a good chance to duplicate that as they return most of their roster from last season. They will be led by their two top goal scorers and seniors in Kayleigh Olson and McKenzie Perry.
Mound Westonka/
SW Christian White Hawks
Head Coach: Larry Olimb
Section: 5A
Conference: Wright County
2023-24 record: 18-8-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lizzy Callahan – F/D –Junior – 11-18-29; Gisella Harder – F – Senior – 9-16-25; Georgia Harmer – F –Junior – 7-13-20; Emma Covell – Junior – 1.00GAA - .926SV%
Season Expectations: Mound Westonka will look for their first trip back to the state tournament since 2021. In order to do so, they will depend on some young underclassmen to step up and help fill the void left by graduating seniors. Their top two returning scorers will be junior Lizzy Callahan and Senior Gisella Harder.
Orono Spartans
Head Coach: Paul Antonenko
Section: 5A Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 22-7-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Zoe Lopez – C/W – Senior – 26-20-46; Maddy Kimbrel – F – Junior – 28-15-43; Macy Rasmussen – F –Senior – 9-26-35; Vivienne Anderson – G – 16-6-1; 1.62GAA - .927SV%
Season Expectations: Orono has a strong case to be the top team in the state and this program is eyeing a state championship this season. Coming off a third place finish, the Spartans are returning their top two scorers in senior Zoe Lopez and junior Maddy Kimbrel. The Spartans have won their section the past three seasons and are aspiring to win the whole thing this season.
Pine City Area Dragons
Head Coach: Nick Miller Section: 5A
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 16-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Rhiannon Ashworth – C/W – 20-21-41; Jennae Szucs – C/W – Senior – 9-14-23; Madison G. Perreault – F – Sophomore – 6-4-10; Iriss Sanftner – G – Junior – 1.98GAA - .926SV%
Season Expectations: Pine City Area is coming off a winning season but will need to replace a lot of production as they graduated seven of their top nine scorers. Fortunately, they return their top scorer in senior Rhiannon Ashworth and will have another strong senior back in Jennae Szucs.
Princeton/Big Lake/Becker Tigers
Head Coach: Gage Chaffee Section: 5A
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 5-21-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Katie Chaffee – W/F – Senior – 7-5-12; Luella Hazlett – F – Junior – 4-6-10; Ava Prosser – F – Senior – 6-4-10; Naiya Hanson – F – 11 – 5-2-7; Alayna Boe – G – Senior – 4.41GAA.895SV%
Season Expectations: Princeton returns a healthy portion of their roster from last year and will look to build off that experience in order to string together some wins this season and become more competitive.
Section 6A
Fergus Falls Otters
Head Coach: Tim Lill Section: 6A
Conference: Central Lakes 2023-24 record: 15-13-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Hannah Johnson – C – Junior – 14-14-28; Averie Tonneson – W – Sophomore – 12-9-21; Maddison Brimhall – F –Sophomore – 7-13-20; Olivia Jurgens – Junior – 1.00GAA - .800SV%
Season Expectations: Fergus Falls is the favorite to win this section and look to win again for the third year running. They have a strong chance to do so as they return their top seven scorers. Junior Hannah Johnson will lead the charge and is coming off scoring 28 points last season.
Morris/Benson Area Storm
Head Coach: Coleton Anderson
Section: 6A
Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 7-18-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Charli Erdahl – Senior –5-7-12; Sadie Koehler – Senior – 2-9-11; Elizebeth Day – 4-4-8; Ava Breuer –4.74GAA - .866SV%
Season Expectations: The Storm lost their top scorer from this past season but do return a lot of experience from last years roster. They will look to continue building off that experience and strive towards a winning record this season.
Northern Lakes Lightning
Head Coach: Bryan Boreen Section: 6A Conference: Mid-State 2023-24 record: 8-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ava Merta – F – Senior – 11-14-25; Jenna Stoerzinger – C/W –Senior – 12-10-22; Corah Meschke – F – Senior – 4-11-15; Sarah Maroney – G –4.22GAA - .844SV%
Season Expectations: Northern Lakes returns a deep roster this season and will look towards their returning seniors to help propel them towards a winning season. Their top scorers from last season are seniors Ava Merta and Jenna Stoerzinger who will both look to set the tone early for the Lightning.
Prairie Centre Blue Devils
Head Coach: Danelle Breitenfeldt Section: 6A Conference: Mid-State 2023-24 record: 5-17-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Natasha Ludwig – C/W – Senior – 15-15-30; Dalelyn Diedrich – F/D – Junior – 4-11-15; Katelyn Jones – D –Junior – 2-2-4
Season Expectations: The Blue Devils return most of their roster from last season and will be led by top scorer, senior, Natasha Ludwig, who totaled 30 points last season. The teams next highest returning scorer is Dalelyn Diedrich.
Section 7A
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks
Head Coach: Kennedy Houge Section: 7A Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 14-12-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Brayley Merrier – C/W –Sophomore – 10-9-19; Emma Parks –F/D – Senior – 5-11-16; Allie Jones – F – Senior – 7-8-15; Izabella Strang – G –Freshman – 2.59GAA - .882
Season Expectations: The Lumberjacks return two of their top three scorers and will look to put together back-to-back winning seasons. They will be led by sophomore Brayley Merrier who had 19 points last season. They will be starting freshman Izabella Strang in net who will look to gain some valuable experience going forward.
Hibbing/Chisholm
Bluejackets
Head Coach: Pete Hyduke Section: 7A
Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 7-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: The Bluejackets return experience at all positions this year and will look to use that to their advantage. They also return two 20-plus scorers from last season in senior Kendal Gustavsson and freshman Audrey Minor.
Rock Ridge Wolverines
Head Coach: Earl Fitzgerald Section: 7A
Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 11-13-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: The Wolverines return nearly their entire roster which gained valuable experience last season and they will now use that to help propel them towards a winning season this year. They will be led by their top two scorers in Natalie Bergman and Mayme Scott who had 49 and 32 points last season, respectively.
Proctor/Hermantown Mirage
Head Coach: Emma Stauber Section: 7A
Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 20-9-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: This powerhouse program is expected to continue their run of dominance in this section. They have won the past six out of seven seasons and are not looking to slow down. They will need to find underclassmen to step up this season as they have lost four of their top five scorers from this past season. Their top returning scorer will be Jane Eckstrom who totaled 35 points last season
Moose Lake Area Rebels
Head Coach: Reilly Fawcett
Section: 7A
Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 14-12-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Hallie Klavu – D – Senior – 13-13- 26; Mackenzie Hoffman – F –Senior – 5-3-8; Makayla Lapierre – D – Freshman – 2-3- 5; Mallory Hartl –Senior – 1.55GAA - .946SV%
Season Expectations: The Rebels have lost four out of their top five scorers from last season and will need to find new blood to help replace that type of production. Their top returning scorer from last season is Hallie Klavu who put together 26 points.
North Shore Storm
Head Coach: Zachary Vieau Section: 7A
Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 9-17
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Nina Thorson – F – Senior – 24-17-41; Avery Lian – D – Senior –13-23-36; Sarah Stauber – D – Junior – 5-28-33; Aurelia (Ray) Anderson – G –Senior – 1.50GAA - .939SV%
Season Expectations: The Storm will bring back three of their top four scorers from last season who will look to lead this team towards a winning record. They also return senior goaltender Aurelia (Ray) Anderson who put together a strong 1.50GAA and .939 save percentage last season.
Section 8A
East Grand Forks Green Wave
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Two Years, Alex Robertson Section: 8A
Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 11-13-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Blake Schultz – F – Junior –35-21- 56; Sophia Lukach – Senior – 1116-27; Madilyn Jamieson – Sophomore – 9-6-15; Britlyn Rasmussen – G – Senior – 11W-12T-3T – 2.87GAA - .906SV%
Season Expectations: The expectation for East Grand Forks this season is to keep building on the late success they were able to find at the end of last year. They have some key returning players with experience and also have a lot of new faces that moved up from their 12u program, which presents an exciting opportunity to develop chemistry both on and off the ice.
Crookston Pirates
Head Coach: Reed Olson Section: 8A
Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 17-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Addison Fee – F – Senior –13-9-22; Jocelyn Field – C – Freshman –6-15-21; Emma LaPlante – F/D – Senior – 8-6-14; Kambella Freije – 1.40GAA - .931SV%
Season Expectations: Crookston is aiming to put together another winning season but will face the challenge of replacing seven of their top nine scorers from last season. Their top two returning scorers are Addison Fee and Jocelyn Field who had 22 and 21 points last season, respectively.
Detroit Lakes Lakers
Head Coach: Gretchen Norby Section: 8A Conference: Mid-State 2023-24 record: 7-13-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kaydence Thorsteinson – F – Senior – 13-6-19; Aurora Jabas – C/W – Freshman 9-7-16; Hadley Songstad – F – Junior – 5-7-12; Talyn Anderson –Sophomore – 3.93GAA - .882SV%
Season Expectations: The Lakers are bringing back the core of their team from last season and will look to keep building forward. They bring back three seniors and their will be plenty of opportunities for underclassmen to step up to the spotlight for this young squad.
International Falls Broncos
Head Coach: Erin Hall Section: 8A Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 1-22-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tirzah Carradice – F – Senior – 3-2-5; Sidney Lindahl-Slatinski – F – Sophomore – 2-2-4; Ava Werner – F –Junior – 1-3-4
Season Expectations: The Broncos bring back their entire roster from last year and will look to learn from last seasons mistakes in order string together more wins this season. Their top scorer is, senior, Tirzah Carradice.
Thief River Falls Prowlers
Head Coach: Brett Johnson Section: 8A
Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 8-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lila Dalager – F – Sophomore – 14- 11-25; Kali Knutson – F – Senior – 15-10-25; Parker Olsonawski – D – Freshman – 8-8-16; McKenna Carr – G – Sophomore – 3.76-.880SV%
Season Expectations: The Prowlers bring back majority of their roster and two 25 point scorers from last season in Lila Dalager and Kali Knutson. The team will look for these two to set the tone and help lead this team to a winning record.
Warroad Warriors
Head Coach: David Marvin Section: 8A Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 22-8-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jaylie French – F/D – Sophomore – 22-26-48; Kaiya Sandy – F – 12
– 18-27-45; Taylor Reese – W – Junior – 21-18-39; Payton Rolli – 19-8-0 –
1.57GAA - .923SV%
Season Expectations: Warroad is looking to continue their dynasty and create
Will Edina celebrate again this season?
history as they try to win their fourth consecutive state championship. They are the top team in the state and anything less than winning the state championship will be a disappointment for this program. They return their top three scorers from last season in Jaylie French, Kaiya Sandy and Taylor Reese. Junior Payton Rolli will return in the net for the Warriors.
Section 1AA
Austin Packers
Head Coach: Sultanna Akkerman
Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 1-22-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Brenna Haedt – F/D – Senior – 6-3-9; Lauren Bowe – F – Sophomore –5-3-8; Katie Fox – D – Senior – 3-3-6
Season Expectations: Austin will look to use their experience from last season to build some momentum and collect more wins this season. Their top two returning scorers are Brenna Haedt and Lauren Bowe.
Farmington Tigers
Head Coach: Jon Holmes
Section: 1AA Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 17-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jenna Goblirsch – F – Freshman – 20-15-35; Amelia Goblirsch – F –Freshman – 10-20-30; Lexi Giller – W –Sophomore – 12-11-23; Addison Moudry – G – Senior – 2.22 - .916SV%
Season Expectations: Farmington will be a strong contender to win their section this season as they return with a deep roster. They return their top two scorers in Jenna Goblirsch and Amelia Goblirsch who had 35 and 30 points last season, respectively.
Mankato East Cougars
Head Coach: Amber Prange Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 16-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ava Tibodeau – F – Junior – 15-19-34; Grace Campbell – F – Sophomore – 12-15-27; Brielle Newton – F/D – Junior – 10-14-24; Jordan Thomas –Senior – 1.98GAA - .893SV%
Season Expectations: Mankato East will be a competitive team this season as they return a healthy portion of their roster. They are coming off a 16-9 season and have the potential to improve upon that record this year. Their top returning scorers are junior Ava Tibodeau and soph-
omore Grace Campbell.
Northfield Raiders
Head Coach: Paige Haley Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 27-3-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Mia Miller – D – Junior – 2148-69; Emma Peroutka – F – Sophomore – 13-12-25; Olivia Rasmussen – F –Senior – 4-10-14; Macy Mueller – Senior – 1.69GAA - .928SV%
Season Expectations: Northfield returns a good amount of talent this year and will be led by junior Mia Miller who had a whopping 69 points last season. They will need to find ways to reproduce some offensive production as they lost four of their top five scorers from last season.
Owatonna Huskies
Head Coach: Tony Cloud Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 14-12-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kendra Bogen – D – Junior – 10-19-29; Alia Kubicek – D – Senior –6-18-24; Anna Mollenhauer – F – Senior – 9-14-23; Leah Spencer – G – Senior –2.64GAA - .896SV%
Season Expectations: Owatonna lost two of their top three scorers to graduation but will return junior Kendra Bogen who totaled 29 point last season. They also return four upperclassmen who had 20plus point seasons in Alia Kubicek, Anna Mollenhauer, Averi Vetsch and Grace Mitchell.
Rochester Century/JM Panthers
Head Coach: Tom Aney Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 8-17-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Megan Gamble – F – Senior – 17-14-31; Daelyn Williams – D – Senior – 13-12-25; Katie Nelson – F –Sophomore – 11-12-23; Isabella Scranton – G – Junior – 5.11GAA - .863SV%
Season Expectations: Rochestor Mayo returns most of their top scorers from last season and will look to capitalize on last years valuable experience to rake in some more wins this season. Their top returnscorer is senior Megan Gamble who finished the year with 31 points.
Rochester Mayo Spartans
Head Coach: Nicole Root/Kora Torkel-
son Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9
PHOTO BY: BRYAN ZOLLMAN
2023-24 record: 10-12-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Natalie Campbell – D –Senior – 5-6-11; Olivia Dahl – F – Sophomore – 6-5-11; Sophia Sather – F – Senior – 5-5-10; Grace Kober – G – Senior – 2.58GAA - .915SV%
Season Expectations: The Spartans were a shy under .500 last season and they will attempt to push themselves into the winning column this season as they return some core pieces from last years roster.
Section 2AA
Chaska/Chanhassen
Storm Hawks
Head Coach: Mike Dietsch Section: 2AA Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 6-16-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Quinlyn Borner – F – Senior – 9-4-13; Evelyn Lundeen – Sophomore – 5-8-13; Katelyn Harrison – Sophomore – 2-7-9
Season Expectations: The Storm Hawks return majority of their roster from last year and will look to continue to build chemistry with one another. They are led by senior Quinlyn Borner who had 13 points last season along with sophomore Evelyn Lundeen.
Eden Prairie Eagles
Head Coach: Steve Persian Section: 2AA
Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 12-13-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ella Konrad – D – Senior – 4-15-19; Addy Mitchell – F – Senior –8-11-19; Sara David – F -Junior – 4-9-13
Season Expectations: The Eagles lost their top scorer but return senior leaders Ella Konrad and Addy Mitchell who had 19 points apiece least season. They will also look to juniors Sara David and Katherine Petrie to take another leap forward this season and help this team propel.
Holy Family Catholic Fire
Head Coach: Randy Koeppl
Section: 2AA
Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 15-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Josie Linn – F – Senior –17-13-30; Ella Nonweiler – F -Junior – 12-14-26; Addy Cowan – F – Junior – 6-16-22; Kayla Swartout – G – Junior –1.96GAA - .928SV%
Season Expectations: The Fire are coming off a winning season and also return most of their team from last season.
Outside of Minnetonka, this is arguably the top team in the section and will be a tough test for anyone they go up against. They will be led by senior forward Josie Linn who compiled 30 points last season.
Minnetonka Skippers
Head Coach: Tracy Cassano Section: 2AA Conference: 8-1-0
2023-24 record: 26-3-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lauren Mack – C/W – 19-3151; Bella Finnegan – D – Senior – 14-1630; Senja Leeper – F – Senior – 10-19-29; Ashlyn Hazlett – G – Senior - .096GAA - .940SV%
Season Expectations: Minnetonka looks to continue their strong grip over the section and will be vying for a state championship this year. They lost three of their top four scorers from last season but return plenty of talent in seniors, Lauren Mack, Bella Finnegan, Senja Leeper, Ruby Rauk and Ellie Zakrajsheck.
New Prague Trojans
Head Coach: Madison Drazan Section: 2AA Conference: Metro West
2023-24 record: 3-20-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Autumn Olson – D – Senior – 3-3-6; Nola Yochim – D – Senior – 2-46; Aftyn Anderson – D – Senior – 1-3-4
Season Expectations: The Trojans lost four of their five top scorers from last season and will look for new talent to help replace that production. This is a rebuilding here for New Prague where they will look to gain some more experience as a team.
Prior Lake Lakers
Head Coach: Kiersten Nelson Section: 2AA
Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 12-13-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Abby Anthony – Sophomore – Forward – 15-8-23; Bella Sterns – F/D – Freshman – 14-8-22; Jonni Anderson –
C/W – Sophomore – 10-9-19
Season Expectations: Prior Lake is expected to be a tough test this year as they return majority of last years roster and plenty of depth. They will be led by underclassmen Abby Anthony and Bella Sterns.
Shakopee Sabers
Head Coach: Jaime Grossman Section: 2AA Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 8-17-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Hannah Grabianowski – F – Senior – 8-16-24; Callie Peterson – D – Senior – 6-11-17; Carmen Benedict –C/W – Eighth Grade – 7-7-14; Liv Toczek – G – Freshman- 3.05GAA - .885
Season Expectations: The Sabers return two of their top three scorers and will look towards seniors Hannah Grabianowski and Callie Peterson for leadership this season. Shakopee will look to improve upon last years record and collect a few more wins this season.
Waconia Wildcats
Head Coach: Kim Abrahams Section: 2AA Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 10-14-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ella Schluck – F – Senior –13-8-21; Becca Dhaene – F – Freshman – 11-3-14; Taylan Kamrath – F – Freshman – 11-3-14 – Maya Pena – G – Senior – 4.50GAA - .871SV% Season Expectations: The Wildcats were a slightly below .500 team last season and they will use their experience from last season to propel themselves into a winning record this year. Senior Ella Schluck finished last year with 21 points and will lead the charge going into this season.
Section 3AA
Apple Valley Eagles
Head Coach: Chris Sikich Section: 3AA Conference: South Suburban
2023-24 record: 10-6-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Makayla Moran – C/W –Senior – 38-29-67; Avery Ryan – W –Senior – 17-24 – 41; Jordyn Thies – W/F – Sophomore – 9-14-23; Finley Engfer –G – Sophomore – 2.24GAA - .924SV%
Season Expectations: Apple Valley has arguably the best player in the state in Makayla Moran but also boasts a top ten team overall as they return a deep roster. Senior Avery Ryan is another bright spot on this squad to look out for throughout the year. This team will be vying for a bid to the state tournament and will be dangerous with Moran at the helm.
Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders
Head Coach: Cretin-Derham Hall
Section: 3AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 14-12-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Abigail Broz – F – Senior – 17-11-28; Hope Hadac – F – Senior –4-16-20; Channing Haycraft – F – Sophomore – 10-7-17; Grace Kemp – Junior – 2.25 - .918SV%
Season Expectations: The Raiders return majority of last years team and will be competitive throughout the year. They bring back their top three scorers, two of which are seniors in Abigail Broz and Hope Hadac. Sophomore Channing Haycraft is another bright spot who looks to improve and take her next leap this year as well.
Eagan Wildcats
Head Coach: Jessica Ptachick Section: 3AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 4-22-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Natalie Heutmaker – F/D – Senior – 11-7-18; Kaityln Barry – F – Junior – 4-7-11; Lauryn Murray – D –Sophomore – 3-6-9; Alice Whitehead – G – Freshman – 7.00GAA - .833SV%
Season Expectations: The Wildcats are a young team and are bringing back majority of their roster. They will be looking to continue building upon last season’s experience and stack more wins this year.
Eastview Lightning
Head Coach: Herb Harvey Section: 3AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 12-13-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Sari Cords – W – Senior – 15-15-30; Ella Schaefer – F – Senior – 5-10-15; Brielle Clardy – F – Freshman – 8-2-10; Bethany Bigalke – 2.90 - .911SV%
Season Expectations: Eastview was one game below .500 this past season and with a healthy amount of their top scorers returning, they will try to get over the hill with a winning season. Senior Sari Cords finished last season with 30 points and will be leading the way again this year.
Hastings Raiders
Head Coach: Jim Joseph
Section: 3AA
Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 13-13-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jade Schauer – W – Senior – 7-13-20; Addison Seleski – D – Senior – 7-13-20; Grace Petrich – F – Senior – 7-12-19; Victoria Steinke – Senior –2.34GAA - .919SV%
Season Expectations: Hastings is another team that had a .500 team last season but with several upperclassmen returning this season, they will look to continue building chemistry and put together winning season. They return their top three scorers in Jade Schauer, Addison Seleski and Grace Petrich.
Lakeville North Panthers
Head Coach: Buck Kochevar
Section: 3AA
Conference: South Suburban
2023-24 record: 22-4-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: Lakeville North will be competitive this season but will need their few remaining upperclassmen to lead the way as their roster was gutted in half. Their top two returning scorers are Shay Swanson and Makayla Lee who had
30 and 23 points last season.
Rosemount Irish
Head Coach: Jennifer Williams/ Kyle Finn Section: 3AA Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 14-11-5
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Annalee Holzer – F – Sophomore – 25-16-41; Sophie Stramel – F – Senior – 15-22-37; Aubrey Hansen – C – Senior – 15- 16-31; Gianna Marchese –G – Sophomore – 2.00GAA - .882SV%
Season Expectations: Rosemount is looking to win the section for the third straight year and have the ability to do it as they return a veteran laden squad. They will be led by sophomore stud, Annalee Holzer and will also look for significant contributions from seniors Sophie Stramel and Aubrey Hansen.
Park of Cottage Grove
Wolfpack
Head Coach: Bay Shock Section: 3AA Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 9-17-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lauren Osland – W – Senior – 9-9-18; Natalie Post – F – Senior – 5-611; Addison Corkish – F – Sophomore – 5-6-11
Season Expectations: The Wolfpack will strive towards putting together a more competitive team this season after gaining experience last year. They return many players and will look to create more chemistry together as a unit.
Section 4AA
East Ridge
Head Coach: Dana Romaker Section: 4AA Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 6-20-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kylee – D – Senior – 4-1317; Sadie Roth – F – Junior – 5-9-14; Cheyne Walz – F – Senior – 7-7-14; Molley Bierwerth – G – Senior – 2.80GAA - .902SV%
Season Expectations: The Raptors will return a healthy amount of their top scorers from last season and will look for more consistency this year. They will be lead by senior defenseman Kylee Paul who led the team with 17 points last year.
Gentry Academy
Head Coach: Jim Jensen Section: 4AA Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 7-17-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Greta Culshaw-Klein – F – 12- 5-14-19; Else Myers – C -Junior –1-10-11; Madelyn Baker – C/W – Junior – 7-2-9; Isabelle – G – Senior – 4.36GAA - .878SV%
Season Expectations: The Stars lost their top five scorers from last season which opens up a lot of opportunity for others to step up and help fill that void. The teams top returning scorer is senior forward Greta Culshaw-Klein who had 19 points last season.
Hill-Murray Pioneers
Head Coach: Metro East Section: 4AA Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 25-4-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jaycee Chatleain – C/F –Sophomore – 27-17-44; Emily Pohl – F – Sophomore – 21-22-43; Sophia Olson – C – Junior – 12-18-30; Ava Cahill –Junior - .068GAA - .951SV%
Season Expectations: Hill-Murray is the favorite to win this section and certainly have the roster to do it. They return a strong core of their team from last year and are experienced overall. Their top two scorers are sophomore’s Jaycee Chatleain and Emily Pohl who each put up 40-plus points last season.
St. Paul/Two Rivers Riveters
Head Coach: Tim Blasé/Allie Duellman Section: 4AA Conference: Metro East
2023-24 record: 8-14-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Edy Halverson – W/F – Senior – 6- 11-17; Zoe Moore – W – Sophomore – 10-7-17; Bryan Christopherson – D – Junior – 2-9-11; Kaitlyn Galeazzi – Junior – 3.18 GAA - .906SV%
Season Expectations: The Riveters return their top two scorers in senior Edy Halverson and sophomore Zoe Moore who each had 17 points last year. They will push to rack up more wins this season after gaining more experience last season.
Stillwater Ponies
Head Coach: Tim Morris Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 17-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Emma Chard – D – Junior –5-16-21; Brynne Laska – F – Sophomore – 5-6-11; Belle McKenzie – F – Senior – 5-611; Haley Solnitzky – Sophomreo –1.71GAA - .911SV%
Season Expectations: Stillwater is a top team in the state and are a legit contender to win the section. They lost a lot of offensive production due to graduation but return a lot of experienced seniors who will help regroup the team and charge for a deep postseason run.
White Bear Lake Bears
Head Coach: Jeanette Bake/Claudia Verkerke Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 14-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Madelyn Lee – F – Junior –15-24-39; Amanda Smythe – F – Senior – 16-12-28; Talia Domschot – F – Senior – 8-18-26; Macy Marston – Sophomore Season Expectations: White Bear Lake will be a competitive team who will be a tough out for anyone they play. They are an experienced group who knows how to play together and have a lot of talent at the top of their roster in Madelyn Lee, Amanda Smythe and Talia Domschot.
Woodbury Royals
Head Coach: Scott Waldo Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 20-5-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Laini Gnetz – C – Junior –31-21-52; Hailey Graunke – F/D – Junior – 17-17-34; Alexa Bricko – F – Junior – 9-20-29; Alyssa Polaski – G – Sophomore – 1.65GAA - .925SV%
Season Expectations: Woodbury will be another team in this section that will be one of the top teams in the state. They return six of their top seven scorers from last season and will be a tough squad overall. They will be led by junior center Laini Gnetz who had a whopping 52 points last season.
Section 5AA
Champlin Park/Coon Rapids Bluebirds
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Todd Gutterman – 10th year Head Coach – 20 plus in Girls High School Hockey Section: 5AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 16-9-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lily McKenzie – F – Senior – 18-29-47; June Semling – F – Sophomore – 15-24-40; Sydney Burnevik - F - Junior - 20-19-39
Season Expectations: Champlin Park/ Coon Rapids will return their top five players in terms of points and four out of their top five defensemen. They also return all their goalies. They have a solid veteran team with some nice young additions. They have a very tough schedule this year which will prepare them for one of the deepest sections in the state.
Maple Grove Crimson
Head Coach (Years Coaching): 26 Years, Jim Koltes
Section: 5AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban Conference
2023-24 record: 21-8-1
Top returning players (Position, Year,
G-A-PTS): Kelsey Olson – C – Senior –15-32-47; Maddie Elfstrand – D – Sophomore – 12-17-29; Hadley Bakker – F –Sophomore – 9-18-27; Bella Prosser – G – Sophomore – 0.52GAA - .962SV%
Season Expectations: Maple Grove return’s a lot of players from last year where they were the consolation champions at State. They have some shoes the fill with the departure of some top players. Their sophomore class who played big roles for the varsity last year has improved and with the leadership of Kelsey Olson, Addison Sillerud & Abbey Oakland, they expect to be competitive and compete in the section.
Centennial/SLP Cougars
Head Coach: Sean Molin Section: 5AA Conference: 8-0-1
2023-24 record: 23-2-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Grace Laager – F – Sophomore – 20-27-47; Teagan Kulenkamp – F – Senior – 22-21-43; Ella Perreault – F –Senior – 22-16-38; Season Expectations: The Cougars are one of the top teams in the state and will be vying for a state title. They have made the state tournament two out of the past four years and will be looking make another run behind the star power of sophomore Grace Laager and senior Teagan Kulenkamp.
Moundsview/Irondale Mustangs
Head Coach: Sami Miller Section: 5AA Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 8-16-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Sarah Johnson – 10 – W – 17-15-32; Nadia Buck – 12 – C/w –6-4-10; Ama Koepcke – F – Freshman – 2-7-9; Madeline Messner – G – Senior 4.59GAA - .860SV%
Season Expectations: The Mustangs bring back several freshman and sophomores who have already had their first taste of varsity experience and are looking to build on that this upcoming season.
North Wright County RiverHawks
Head Coach: Kaleigh Bean Section: 5AA
Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 11-15-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Alexa Schumm – Defense –Sophomore – 5-9-14; Alexa Larson – F – Sophomore – 1-11-12; Danika Weiland – C – Senior – 8-4-12 – Kathrine Lemke – Senior – 2.76GAA - .900SV% Season Expectations: The River Hawks lose their top two scorers from last season but will look towards underclassmen Alexa Schumm and Alexa Larson to take that next leap in their development and help produce at a higher level on the offensive end. Senior goalie Kathrine Lemke will be starting in net and is coming off a season with a 2.76GAA
Osseo/Park Center Stars
Head Coach: Jeremy Lewis Section: 5AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 9-13-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Reese Ruska – F – Freshman – 9-15-24; Bella Lindquist – C/F – Sophomore – 9-18-17; Gabriella Edlund – 10 – C/F – Sophomore – 10-4-14
Season Expectations: The Stars return a healthy portion of their roster from last season and will be led by junior forward Reese Ruska who had 24 points this past year. They will look to sophomore’s Bella Lindquist and Gabrielle Edlund to take another step forward this year and help establish themselves as future leaders of the program.
Rogers Royals
Head Coach: Emily Achterkich
Section: 5AA
Conference: Northwestern Suburban 2023-24 record: 10-16-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lauren Barnacle – C – Senior – 6-15-21; Sydney Bailey – D – Senior – 7-11-18; Alexa Sherf – F – Sophomore – 9-6-15; Claire Kinneberg – G – Senior – 3.16GAA - .879SV%
Season Expectations: Rogers returns
Centennial/Spring Lake Park will be a contender.
most of their top scorers from last season and will be looking towards seniors Lauren Barnacle and Sydney Bailey to led the charge this year. Senior Claire Kinneberg will be starting in net and had a .879SV% this past year.
Roseville/Mahtomedi Raiders
Head Coach: Craig Rosenthal
Section: 5AA
Conference: Suburban East
2023-24 record: 17-8-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Addison Andre – F – Senior – 16-21-37; Olivia Martin – Defense – Senior – 3-20-23; Sophie Martin – F – Senior – 8-12-20; Lily Peterfeso – G –Senior – 2.81GAA - .889SV%
Season Expectations: The Raiders are another top team in the section but lost three of their top scorers from this past season. They will need to look for ways to replace that production and that will start with their top returning scorer in senior forward Addison Andrew who totaled 37 points last season.
Section 6AA
Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights
Head Coach: Kevin Gray/ Kelly Pannek
Section: 6AA
Conference: Metro West
2023-24 record: 21-4-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kendall Hassler – F – Senior – 24-10-34; Ellie Stewart – 11-22-33: Talia Hansen – F – 10 – 16-14-30; Elie Hancock – G – Senior – 1.61GAA.913SV%
Season Expectations: The Red Knights will be Edina’s biggest challenger in the section and are one of the best teams in the state. Edina has had a chokehold over the section the past eight years but this could be the year things change. Benilde-St. Margaret’s brings back their top four scorers and will look towards senior Kendall Hassler to help this team make a deep postseason run.
Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars
Head Coach: Mark Johnson
Section: 6AA
Conference: Metro West
2023-24 record: 8-16-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kylie Jones – F – Senior –6-7-13; Cara Krenz – D – Junior – 1-123; Allegra Kuhn – D – Junior – 4-4-8
Season Expectations: The Jaguars will need to reload a bit this season as they
lost their top three scorers from last season due to graduation. Their top returning scorer is senior Kylie Jones who had 13 points last season. This team will look for new players to help step up this season.
Edina Hornets
Head Coach: Sami Cowger
Section: 6AA Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 23-6-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lorelai Nelson – C/W – Junior – 15-28-43; Whitney Horton – C/W – Senior – 22-18-40; Cate McCoy – F –Junior – 14-17-31
Season Expectations: Edina is the top team in the state and expects nothing other than a state championship. This is a deep, talented team with experience along with coming off another state title. They will attempt to make a deep postseason run with the hope of winning back-toback state championships.
Hopkins/Park Royals
Head Coach: Ryan St. Martin Section: 6AA Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 7-16-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lucy Johnson – F – Junior – 14-13-27; Hazel Schenkelberg – Freshman – 13-9-22; Adrienne DeGiulio –Junior – 11-4-15
Season Expectations: Hopkins/Park will look to gain some more valuable experience this season and develop chemistry. A bright spot for them is that they are returning their leading scorer in junior Lucy Johnson who had 27 points last season. They are also looking for freshman Hazel Schenkelberg to take another leap this season. Schenkelberg finished last season with 22 points.
Metro South
Head Coach: Dan Berthiaume Section: 6AA Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 4-20-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ella Berthiaume – F – Senior – 8-7-15 – Rayna Stecklein – F- Junior – 2-2-4; Mary Merthiaume – F – Sophomore – 0-1-1
Season Expectations: Metro South is looking to continue building their program in a positive direction. Their will be plenty of opportunities for fresh blood to showcase their skills this season as the Phoenix lost a few players to graduation.
Wayzata Trojans
Head Coach: Brad Podiak
Section: 6AA Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 6-18-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jenna Britz – C – Senior –9-10-19; Nicole Britz – F/D – 7-10-17; Julia Ostaperic – F – Junior – 2-15-17; Malin Erickson – G – 12 – 4.59GAA.869SV%
Season Expectations: Wayzata is looking to build off last years experience and continue to progress forward. They return their top scorer in senior Jenna Britz who put together 19 points last season. They will be starting senior goaltender Malin Erickson who had a 4.59GAA last season.
Robbinsdale Armstrong/ Cooper Wings
Head Coach: Matt Cook
Section: 6AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 9-15-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Claire Hanson – D – Senior – 3-13-16; Stellie LeMieux – D – Senior – 2-12-14; Taylor Fruetel – F - Senior –3-8-11
Season Expectations: The Wings lost their top three scorers from last season and will be looking for new faces to help replace that production. Their top returning scorer is senior Claire Hanson who had 16 points last season.
Section 7AA
Elk River/Zimmerman Elks
Head Coach (Years Coaching): 7 Years, Brian Ballenger
Section: 7AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 7-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Abby Hansberger –D – Senior – 8-13-21; Tony Alm – D – 4-6-10; Jayden Peterson – F – 9-8-17; Abby Huselid – G – Senior – 2.6GAA.92SV%
Season Expectations: Elk River/Zimmerman Elk expects to be an improved team from last season. Head coach, Brian Ballenger has the expectation of not giving up many goals. He also expects to score on the offensive end by winning races and puck battles.
Grand Rapids-Greenway Lightning
Head Coach (years coaching): Brad Hyduke (15 years)
Section: 7AA
Conference: Lake Superior Conference 2023-24 record: 17-10-1
Top returning players (Position, Year,
PHOTO BY: MIKE THILL
G-A-PTS): Mercury Bischoff – F –Senior – 39-22-61; Ryleigh Sherlock – F – Senior – 4-4-8; Mira Rajala – F –Senior – 7-9-16; Claire Tobeck – Junior – 5.15GAA, .750SV%
Season Expectations: The Grand Rapids-Greenway Lightning will look to push again for a top 10 AA ranking in the state, top section seed and compete for the 7AA title
Andover Huskies
Head Coach: Melissa Volk
Section: 7AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 22-6-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: Andover will look to continue their dominance and return to the state tournament yet again. They have high aspirations and are looking to capture their third state title in the past five years. They return a majority of their roster and are prepared to make a deep run again this season.
Anoka Tornadoes
Head Coach: Eric Thompson Section: 7AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 11-14-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Katelyn Buth – F/D – Senior – 8-14-22; Kendall Rykkeli – F – Senior – 8-11- 19; Leah Amsler – F – Senior
– 11-7 -18; Annika Olson – G – Senior –
2.71GAA - .897SV%
Season Expectations: Anoka returns most of their roster from last season and will look to put together a winning season with a lot of experienced upperclassmen. This is a deep roster that has played together for the past few years and they will look to put together a successful year.
Blaine Bengals
Head Coach: Calla Athman Section: 7AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 11-12-4
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Isabella Brady – D – Senior
– 7-15-22; Gracyn Knowles – F – Senior – 11-11-22; Cierra Ledeen – C/F – Senior – 10-7-17; Kayden Larson – G – Junior –2.60GAA - .889SV%
Season Expectations: The Bengals return eight seniors this season and their top three scorers. Their strength is on the defensive end as they return their entire defense but they will looks towards Isabella Brady and Gracyn Knowles to be productive on the offensive end.
Duluth Northern Stars
Head Coach: Ali Randall Section: 7AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 9-16-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Mae McCall – F- Junior –17-20-37; Lucy Bell – D – Junior – 1-5-6; Haili Truitt – F – Junior – 2-3-5
Season Expectations: Duluth is in a complete overhaul this season as they graduated ten seniors. Their brightest spot will be Mae McCall who was the team’s leading scorer last season. This team will be looking to fill some roster holes with underclassmen and gain some experience.
Forest Lake Head Coach: Breanna Gaffy
Andover is always in the running for a state tournamnt appearnace out of Section 7AA.
Section: 7AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 11-14-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Rylen Kissell – W – Senior –14-11-25; Abigail Sklavenitis – F – Junior – 12-10-22; Maddy Kemplin – C – Senior – 3-14-17; Taylor Thompson – Junior –2.90GAA - .916SV%;
Season Expectations: The Rangers return 17 of their 20 players from last season and will look to build off last years experience. They return their top scorer in senior Rylen Kissell who accumulated 25 points last season.
Northern Tier Stars
Head Coach: Josh Kozak
Section: 7AA
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 16-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Chloe King – F – Junior –24-15-39; Molly Larson – F – Sophomore – 12-8-20; Ariel Carlston – F – Senior – 9-10-19; Abigail Thurmer – Senior –2.62GAA - .894SV%
Season Expectations: The Stars return a majority of their roster from last season and will look for leadership from junior Chloe King. King totaled 39 points last year and looks to another leap forward in her game. Senior Abigail Thurmer will start in net and is coming off last season with a 2.62GAA.
Section 8AA
Alexandria Cardinals
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Molly Arola
Section: 8AA
Conference: Central Lakes 2023-24 record: 13-12-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kennedy Ellingson – W -
Senior – 11-11-22; Emma Ramstorf – D – Senior – 4-11-15; Jersey Severson – F –Junior – 5-9- 14; Rachael Mohr – G – Senior – 7W-9L-1T – 2.75GAA - .891SV%
Season Expectations: The Cardinals will looking to rely heavily on upperclassmen experience and put together a winning season. They return their top five scorers and will look to improve upon last years experience behind top scorers: Kennedy Ellingson, Emma Ramstorf and Jersey Severson.
Moorhead Spuds
Head Coach (Years Coaching): Five years, Ryan Kraft
Section: 8AA
Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 24-3-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Olivia Kortan – C – Senior – 23-38-61; Addison Salvevold – F – Senior – 8-18-26; Addie Moos – F – Senior -11-13-24; Taylor Kressin – G – Senior –23W-3L-1T – 1.25GAA - .931SV%
Season Expectations: With the departure of three Division One players, Moorhead will struggle to score goals at the beginning of the season but they will be a tough team to play against. They have three of their top five defensemen returning and one of the best goalies in the state in Taylor Kressin as their last line of defense. Olivia Kortan will lead the offensive push up front and she will be supported by large senior and junior classes who will all compete for playing time. When you combine that with one of the toughest schedules in the state, they should playoff ready by the end of the season.
Bemidji Lumberjacks
Head Coach: Michael Johnson Section: 8AA Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 16-11-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Bailey Rupp – C/F – Sophomore - 35-24-59; Megan Berg – C/F - Junior – 17-24-41; Naomi Johnson – F – Freshman – 13- 8-21; Ava Myhre – G –Senior – 2.48GAA - .904SV%
Season Expectations: The Lumberjacks return their top seven scorers and will look towards the leadership of Bailey Rupp and Megan Berg to help lead them towards a winning season and a legitimate shot to win the section.
Brainerd/Little Falls Warriors
Head Coach: Tate Rusk Section: 8AA Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 15-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kate Boberg – F – Senior3-4-7; Levi LeMieur – F – Junior – 3-4-7; Kristina Baillif – D/F – Senior - 4-2-6; Ericah Folden – G – Senior – 1.53GAA.945SV%
Season Expectations: The Flying Warriors will look towards multiple upperclassmen to help them replace some offensive production after losing their top two scorers to graduation. Katie Boberg and Levi Mieur will be the main candidates to help propel the team on the offensive end.
Buffalo Bison
Head Coach: Ryan Huddy Section: 8AA Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 3-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kaiya Johnson – C – Senior – 5-5-10; Savana Sabraski – Sophomore – 3-4-7; Avery Corbin – F – Junior – 3-36; Ava Jovan – G – Senior – 3.41GAA - .914SV%
Season Expectations: Buffalo returns their top scorer in Kaiya John and will look to find ways to build off last years experience in order to stack wins. They will look to sophomore and Savana Sabraski and junior Avery Corbin to help lead the pack as well.
Roseau Rams
Head Coach: Amanda Giles Section: 8AA
Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 19-12-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jasmine Hovda – C/F – Junior – 26-38-64; Payton Remick – C/W – Senior – 26-22-48; Lily Erickson – W – Senior – 20-16-36; Madalyn Lisell – G – 2.56GAA - .889SV%
Season Expectations: The Rams are looking to duplicate their 8AA championship and make a return to the state tournament. They are one of the top teams in the section again and are returning 15 members from last years team. Roseau is a dangerous team that will be a tough test for everyone they go up against.
Sartell/Sauk Rapids Storm'n'Sabres
Head Coach: Bre Hess Section: 8AA
Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 4-21-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Faith Torborg – F – Junior –6-5-11; Brayley VanDenBerg – F – Senior – 4-6-10; Abigail – F – Sophomore – 5-4-9; Lauren Vanvickle – G – Junior – 3.43GAA - .877SV%
Season Expectations: Sartell/Sauk Rapids will be looking to develop their younger players and gain some experience this season as the program continues to develop. Their will be plenty of opportunities for underclassmen to showcase their skills on the offensive end as the team has lost their top two scorers from last season.
St. Cloud Crush
Head Coach: Mike Petroske Section: 8AA Conference: Greater Minnesota 2023-24 record: 7-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Molly Burkstrand – W/F –Senior – 12-9-21; Maggie O’Hare – F – Senior – 6-10-16; Liz Bell – F – Junior – 3-11-14; Jordan Bovy – G – 3.62GAA - .881SV%
Season Expectations: St. Cloud returns two of their top three scorers from last season in Molly Burkstrand and Maggie O’Hare. The team will look for both seniors leadership to help pave the win for more success in the win column this season.
PHOTO BY: JEFF ANDERSON
Minnesota High School Hockey State Champions
Head of the pack
Hirschfeld and his fellow Crusaders eye 1A repeat
by BRYAN ZOLLMAN
Let’s Play Hockey Publisher
This past March there were a handful of hockey teams competing in the state high school hockey tournament who were capable of hoisting the trophy as the best in Class A.
But it was St. Cloud Cathedral who outlasted the competition, defeating perennial powerhouse Hermantown to claim their second championship in five years.
Cathedral entered the season as the top-ranked team, in Let's Play Hockey's pre-season rankings.
A big reason for that is because they return a strong core of key players from last year’s squad. John Hirschfeld is considered one of the better players in the state after leading the state in assists and finishing with 83 points. The University of Vermont commit isn’t big in stature, but plays a big game.
“He’s a complete hockey player,” said Cathedral Head Coach Robbie Stocker. “There’s guys who are really talented who can cheat the game, but he doesn’t cheat anything and is the hardest working player in all three zones. He has all the skill and his toughness makes him tough to shut down.”
Hirschfeld quietly put together a phenomenal season, averaging almost two assists per game. His game isn’t flashy – he’s more of a lunch bucket player who uses smarts, toughness, and will to make things happen that otherwise wouldn’t.
“We didn’t play a game last year where I didn’t feel he was the best complete hockey player on the ice,” said Stocker. “I don’t expect that to change this year.”
Likely a candidate for Mr. Hockey, Hirschfeld is not just an offensive threat.
He plays a 200-foot game and has the best vision of anyone in the state,” said Stocker. “Plus he’s a great leader. I expect him to be an even more impactful player this year than last year.”
Hirschfeld is rejoined by linemate
Joey Gillespie who along with Andrew Dwinnell made up arguably the best line in the state last year. Dwinnell has since graduated, but Gillespie and his 32 goals returns.
“His game keeps trending up,” said Stocker. of Gillespie “He’s long and can play a power forward game. When he turns it on he can play a grown man’s game and once he gets rolling its hard to deny him the middle of the ice. He’s gotten faster and stronger.”
Senior winger Jaeger Wood will join Gillespie and Hirschfeld on the top line. Wood was a 10-goal scorer last year
“Jaeger fits in well with that line,” said Stocker.
While Hirschfeld and Gillespie will lead the forwards, junior Griffin Strum will anchor a defensive group who graduated three of their four top defensemen.
“Griff is a phenomenal skater and his vision and poise jump off the page,” said Stocker. “And he’s tough, too. He slips his way out of most of those situations, but when teams get physical he’s always giving it right back.”
Ian Bacik and Connor Stockman will step into the top two pairings after being the third pairing a year ago. Bacik played in 8 games and Stockman played in 22 so they have varsity experience.
Talent is one thing, depth is another. In order to compete through sections, a team cannot rely on one line or one set of D. Stocker said his squad will bring in some newcomers who should be able to adjust to the fastpaced varsity level.
“We have some seniors who have been chomping at the bit the last couple years who would have been varsity players on most teams,” he said. “But they were mainly JV and getting fourth line minutes. They’re ready to step into some roles.”
The likes of Noah Klein and Mayson Lane will see their roles amped up as top six forwards with some special teams play after toiling on the third line a year ago. Stocker said the team also welcomes a pair of solid players form the Bantam AA squad. Bo Schmidt and Talen Ruprecht are expected to step in and provide the team with
much needed depth at forward.
“As the year progresses I think they can progress into pretty dynamic players,” said Stocker. “They remind me of Hirschfeld and Gillespie when they were freshmen.”
Last season the Crusaders suffered through some injuries with senior netminder Nick Hanson. The silver lining, though, was that Keaton Legrande and Blake Kayser both received valuable minutes against strong opponents. Stocker said the two will be duking it out for playing time this season and both are just juniors.
While Stocker likes his team and likes their chances of competing with the top Class A teams in the state, he knows that parity is as prevalent as ever and the trophy could land in anyone’s trophy case.
“There’s probably 10-15 teams who have a realistic shot to win the whole thing,” he said. “For us it will come down to how we develop over the course of the season. I think we are right in the mix.”
Section Breakdowns - Team By Team
Section 1A
Albert Lea Tigers
Head Coach: Matt Erickson
Section: 1A
Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 14-12-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Connor Pirsig – F – Senior – 18-15- 33; Zaden Brua – D – Junior – 7-10-17; Jacob Kolker – F – Junior –7-6-13; Ledger Stadheim – G – Senior2.84GAA - .901SV%
Season Expectations: The Tigers are looking to improve upon the 14-win season they had last year and that starts with their strong point in returning senior goaltender, Ledger Stadheim. Stadheim finished last season with a 2.84GAA and .901SV%
Austin Packers
Head Coach: Troy Schaefer
Section: 1A Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 4-22-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Grady Carney – F – Senior – 6-8-14; Gahvin Schaefer – F – Senior 6-5-11; Isaac Anderson – F – Junior –8-2-10; Daran Plunkett – G – 5.21GAA - .881SV%
Season Expectations: Austin will look to learn from mistakes and build off of last years experience in order to compile some more wins this season. They return most of their roster and will look to keep building chemistry together. Their top returning scorer is Grady Carney who had 14 points last season.
Dodge County Wildcats
Head Coach: Andrew Wilcox/Bryce Wilcox Section: 1A Conference: Independent
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Brett Ludvigsen – C/W –Senior – 29-48-77; Dylan Klomps – C/W – Senior – 14-11-25; Jeremiah Peterson Gordon – D – Junior 0 1-21-22
Season Expectations: Dodge County is one of the top teams in the section and are coming off a 19-8 season. Their return their top playmaker in Brett Ludvigsen who had 77 points last season and will look to have another big year for the Wildcats.
Fairbault Falcons
Head Coach: Jake Dickison Section: 1A Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 10-16-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tommy Kunze – Junior –13-15-28; Nick Archambault – Senior – 5-8-13; RJ Wasilowski – 5-3-8; Dustin Boyd – G- 5.38GAA - .832SV%
Season Expectations: The Falcons are coming off a 10-win season and having a lot of top players to replace on their roster going into this year. They lost five of their top six scorers and return junior Tommy Kunze as their top offensive player.
La Crescent-Hokah Lancers
Head Coach: Eriah Hayes Section: 1A Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 24-3-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ethan Myhre – F – Senior –9-29-38; Alex Von Arx – F – Senior – 119-20; Mithcell Reining – W/D – Senior – 4-9-13; Charles Wieser – G – Junior - 2.37GAA - .890SV%
Season Expectations: The Lancers are coming off a stellar season after posting a 24-3 record but lost five of their top sixscorers and will need to find ways to replace that type of production. Their top returning score is senior forward Ethan Myhre who accumulated 38 points last season.
Northfield Raiders
Head Coach: Mike Luckraft Section: 1A Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 23-5-2
PHOTO BY: BRYAN ZOLLMAN
St. Cloud Cathedral's John Hirschfeld returns for his senior season after leading the state in assists a year ago, hoping to get back to state for the defending champs.
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Will Cashin – F – Senior –11-22-33; Michael Steward – F – Junior – 7-17-24; Benjamin Geiger – D – Sophomore – 2-21-23; Max Frank – G – 1.72GAA - .916SV%
Season Expectations: Northfield is looking to win the section for the third straight year but will face challenges in terms of replacing some of last years production. The Raiders lose four of their top five scorers andwill need fresh blood to help supplement that loss. Their top returning scorer is senior forward Will Cashin who totaled 33 points last season.
Red Wing Wingers
Head Coach: Tony Casci Section: 1A Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 5-20-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ethan Anderson – F – Junior – 8-6-14; Carson Frank – F – Senior – 3-6-9; Charlie Peterson – F – Senior – 3-6-9; Ben Flaaen – G – Junior –4.87GAA - .890SV%
Season Expectations: The Wingers lost their top two scorers from last season but bring back a good portion of their roster. They will look to upperclassmen Ethan Anderson and Carson Frank to help lead the charge this year.
Rochester Lourdes Eagles
Head Coach: Jeff True Section: 1A
Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 9-17-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jack Roe – F – Senior –5-19-24; Dominic Troutman – C/W –10-10-20; Vincent Harens – D – Junior – 3-15-18; Anton Ackley – G – Junior –
3.59GAA - .889SV%
Season Expectations: The Eagles return a lot of varsity experience from last season and will look for senior Jack Roe to lead the charge. Roe finished last season with 24 points. Juniors Vincent Harens and Colton Rich will both be key pieces for the Eagles this season.
Waseca Bluejays
Head Coach: Chris Storey Section: 1A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 15-12-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Griffin Storey – F – Sophomore – 18-35-53; Brayden Hesch-Priem – C/W – Senior – 23-21-44; Hunter Anderson – 25-12-37; Season Expectations: The Bluejays bring back majority of their roster from last season and look to put together another winning season. They will be led by Griffin Storey who totaled 53 points last season. Other key pieces include seniors Brayden Hesch-Priem and Hunter Anderson.
Winona/Cotter Winhawks
Head Coach: Martin Raymond Section: 1A Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 16-8-1
Top returning players: Aven Prodzinski – C- Senior – 17-35-52; Paxton Raymond – D– Junior – 3-10-13; Trystan Hagen- F – Senior – 7-2-9
Season Expectations: The Winhawks are coming off a successful but will be looking to replace a few key pieces from last season. They will be looking for Aven Prodsinski, Damon Noland Paxton Raymond to step up into bigger roles this upcoming season.
Section 2A
Breck Mustangs
Head Coach: Dave Maley Section: 2A
Conference: Independent Metro Athletic 2023-24 record: 14-11-1
Top returning players: Ben Amato – F
– Senior – 32-31-63; Garrett Trench – F
– Junior – 18-28-46; Jack Drawz – D –Senior – 4-7-11; Isaac Hguyen – Senior – 3.18GAA - .888SV%
Season Expectations: The Mustangs return their top scorer in Ben Amato who had 63 points total last season. Breck lost five of their top seven scorers from last season and will look for new faces to help
replace that production. Senior goaltender Isaac Hguyen is coming off a season where he had a 3.18GAA.
Delano Tigers
Head Coach: Gerrit Van Bergen Section: 2A Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 17-9-1
Top returning players: Mason Hargarten – F – Senior – 16-16-32; Jospeh McCabe – F – Senior – 13-13-26; Bryce Peterson – F – Senior – 11-12-23; Evan Geyen – G – Junior – 2.94GAA - .889SV%
Season Expectations: Delano is arguably the top team in the section and has high hopes to make a deep postseason run. They return a healthy portion of last years roster and will look to improve even further upon a 17-9-1 record from last season.
Hutchinson Tigers
Head Coach: Matt Telecky Section: 2A Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 7-17-2
Top returning players: Emmett ReiterF – Senior – 19-9-28; Manny Pearce – F – Senior – 13-10-23; Nathan Thode – F – Senior – 9-10-19; Lukas Heilman – G –Senior – 3.42GAA - .894SV%
Season Expectations: Hutchinson returns their starting goaltender in Lukas Heilman along with much experience on the defensive end. They also return their top three scorers in Emmett Reiter, Manny Pearce and Nathan Thode.
Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato Dragons
Head Coach: Steve Haataja/Brian Moe
Section: 2A
Conference: Wright County
2023-24 record: 4-21-1
Top returning players: Kasey Melquist – C/W – Senior – 10-5-15; Anton Haataja – C/D – Junior – 7-5-12; Carson Brummond – C/W – 3-7-10; Chase Zwilling –G – Senior – 5.52GAA - .840SV%
Season Expectations: The Dragons return their top five scorers from last season and will look their experience to help stack more wins this season. They also return two senior goaltenders in Chase Zwilling and Braxton Graupman.
Minneapolis Hockey
Head Coach: Joe Dziedzic
Section: 2A
Conference: Tri-Metro
2023-24 record: 12-16-0
Top returning players: Johan Krasean – F – Senior – 24-13-37; Nick Anderson – D – Senior – 15-15-30; Eli Milinkovich – F – Junior – 8-21-29; Adam Lybeck – G – 2.62GAA - .885SV%
Season Expectations: Minneapolis is coming off a season where were a shy under .500 so they will attempt to keep striving forward and jump back into the win column. Their top returning scorers are senior Johan Krasean and Nick Anderson who are both coming off 30-point plus seasons.
Mound Westonka White Hawks
Head Coach: Jeff DeGree
Section: 2A
Conference: Wright County
2023-24 record: 12-13-1
Top returning players: Liam Grant – F – Junior 18-27-45; August Novack – F – Senior – 6-18-24; Colin Hagen – F –Junior – 11-12-23
Season Expectations: The White Hawks are another team who were a shy under .500 last season and are looking to jump back into the win column. They return their top four scorers from last season and expect their returning upperclassmen core to lead the charge this year.
Orono Spartans
Head Coach: Mitch Hall
Section: 2A
Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 22-9-0
Top returning players: Jackson Knight – 21-22-43; Rory Kvern – F – Junior – 15-14-29; Trey Landa – F – Senior –7-20-27; Evan Schmidt – G – 2.86GAA - .879SV%
Season Expectations: Orono has won the section the past two seasons and expects to do it again this season. They lose three of their top four scorers but return their
leading scorer from last season in Jackson Knight. Knight totaled 43 points last season and looks to have improve upon that this year.
Providence Academy Lions
Head Coach: Chris Lewis Section: 2A Conference: Independent Metro Athletic 2023-24 record: 10-17-0
Top returning players: Jesse Varner –D – Senior – 5-14-19; Josh Wilson – D – Junior – 1-13-14; Gavin Sattler – F –Sophomore – 8-5-13; Owen Villagomez – G – 4.60GAA -.856SV%
Season Expectations: The Lions lost their top three scorers to graduation but return majority of their roster from last season. They will look to continue developing their core and build towards a winning season.
Section 3A
Fairmont Cardinals
Head Coach: Dylan VanBrocklin Section: 3A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 3-24-0
Top returning players: Gavin Kester –F – Junior – 10-3-13; Eric Determan – F – Senior – 4-5-9; Dayton Draper – D –Junior – 1-2-3; Brandon Hector – Junior – G – 7.98GAA
Season Expectations: The Cardinals lost their top two scorers and will need to build some more chemistry this season in order to keep improving. Their top two returning scorers are Gavin Kester and Eric Determan.
Luverne Cardinals
Head Coach: Tony Sandbulte Section: 3A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 24-3-0
Top returning players: Maddux Domagala – F – Junior – 28-24-52; Landyn Lais – F – Junior – 20-27-47; Blaik Bork – D/F – Senior 16-27-43; Gavin Hoven –Junior – 1.50GAA - .892SV%
Season Expectations: The Cardinals are a top contender in the section that can do some damage and make a deep postseason run. They lost their two top scorers from last season but bring back three 40plus point scorers in Maddux Domagala, Landyn Lais and Blaik Bork.
Mankato East Cougars
Head Coach: Adam Fries Section: 3A Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 13-12-2
Top returning players: Boston Beltz – F – Senior – 7-13-20; Caden Hansen – C/W – Senior – 9-11-20; Luke Lebens – C/D – 6-9-15; Brody Kunst – G – Senior –3.29GAA.887SV%
Season Expectations: Mankato East was a shy over .500 last season and will aim for another winning season behind their top two returning scorers in Boston Beltz and Caden Hansen. They also bring back senior goaltender Brody Kunst who had a 3.29GAA last season.
Mankato West Scarlets
Head Coach: Nate Olsen Section: 3A Conference: Big 9 2023-24 record: 8-16-2
Top returning players: Grady Hatlestad – F – Senior – 10-10-20; Grady Schmidt – D – 10 – 3-14-17; Isaac Ulman – W –Junior – 11-5-16; Mason Schreiber – G – Junior – 2.76GAA - .911SV%
Season Expectations: Mankato West lost their two top scorers to graduation but will be led by senior Grady Hatlestad who had 20 points last season. They also bring back most of their defense along with junior goaltender Mason Schreiber.
Marshall Tigers
Head Coach: Michael Weiss Section: 3A Conference: Big South 2023-24 record: 16-12-0
Top returning players: Owen Renslow
– C – Senior – 30-23-53; Jacob Johnson
– C/F – Senior – 12-19-31; Luke Ehlers –D – Senior – 8-15-23; Nathan Lenz –2.67GAA - .864SV%
Season Expectations: Marshall is com-
ing off a section final appearance and return five defensemen from last season. They expect to have another successful season and be a threat within the section. Their top returning scorer is senior Owen Renslow who had 53 points last season.
Section 4A
Bloomington Kennedy Eagles
Head Coach: Brandon Tevitbakk Section: 4A Conference: Tri-Metro 2023-24 record: 4-22-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): David Wurst – Senior – 7-310; Isaac Syrjamaki – F – Senior – 4-5-9; Mason Biermaier – Senior – F – 4-4-8 – Dominick Russell – G – 9.82GAA.787GAA
Season Expectations: The Eagles are bringing back a good portion of their top scorers and will look to create more team cohesiveness this year. Their top returning scorer is senior forward David Wurst who had 10 points last year.
Chisago Lakes Wildcats
Head Coach: Cory Lushanko Section: 4A
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 11-14-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Max Bobrowski – C/W –Senior – 22-16-38; Ben Kerkow – C/W – Senior – 8-22-30: Maxwell Koch – D – Junior – 0-19-19; Brett Hanson – G –3.56GAA - .885SV%
Season Expectations: Chisago Lakes was a shy under .500 last season and will look to propel themselves into a winning record this season. They bring back two of their top scorers in seniors Max Bobrowski and Ben Kerkow who both put together 30-plus point season’s last year.
Mahtomedi Zephyrs
Head Coach: Jeff Poeschl Section: 4A
Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 18-13-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Samuel Harris – D – Senior – 8-25-33; Winston Wright – W – Senior – 10-11-21; Laken Decker – W – Senior – 2-13-15; Wesley Strub – G – 2.35GAA - .916SV%
Season Expectations: The Zephyrs strong suit will be on the defensive end where they bring back much experience and will be starting senior goaltender, Wesley Strub. Strub had a 2.35GAA last season with a .916SV%. Their top returning scorer will be senior Samuel Harris who had 33 points last season.
Simley Spartans
Head Coach: Ben Horsch Section: 4A Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 5-19-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tyler Letendre – F – Senior –10-8- 18; Ethan Unglesbee – F – Senior –0-13-13; Eli Boone – F – Senior – 2-5-7; Everett Hay – G – Junior – 3.00GAA - .909SV%
Season Expectations: Simley lost most of their roster due to graduation and will have many new faces getting their first taste of varsity experience. Their brightest spot will be senior forward Tyler Letendre who scored 18 points last season as the team’s leading scorer.
South St. Paul Packers
Head Coach: Zach Palmquist Section: 4A Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 9-17-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Roddick Simons – C/W – Senior – 18-8-26; Cole Stever – F – Junior –3-7-10; Jaxson Horning – F – Sophomore – 3-3-6
Season Expectations: South St. Paul lost four of their top scorers from a year ago and will look for new underclassmen faces to step up and replace that production. Their top leading scorer returning is Roddick Simmons who is coming off a season with 26 points.
St. Paul Academy Spartans Head Coach: Bill McClellan
Section: 4A
Conference: Independent Metro Athletic 2023-24 record: 11-16-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ethan Peltier – F – Senior –14-11- 25; Liam Huddleston – F – Senior – 8-5-13; Jimmer Steiner – F – Senior –5-5-10
Season Expectations: St. Paul Academy returns two of their top three scorers in Ethan Peltier who had 25 points last season and Liam Huddleston who accumulated 13. The team will be looking for a new face to become the teams future goaltender as they graduated both goaltenders from last season.
St. Paul Highland Park/Central Scots Head Coach: Paul Ryan Section: 4A Conference: Tri-Metro 2023-24 record: 12-14-0
Season Expectations: This team graduated a significant portion of last seasons top scorers minus their leading senior in Isaac Johnson who had 22 points last year. They also bring back their top goaltender in senior Calum Axelson who had a 3.24GAA and .896SV%.
SW Christian/Richfield Stars
Head Coach: Paul Ranheim Section: 4A Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 17-11-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tate Hardacre – D – Junior – 14-29- 43; Paul Hornor – F – Senior –14-19-33; Chrisitan Greer – F – Junior – 6-21-27
Season Expectations: The Stars are coming off a successful season and are lookingto strive for another winning year. They will be led by junior defensemen, Tate Hardacre, who had 43 points last season. They will be looking for a new goaltender this season as well after losing both to graduation.
Section 5A
Becker/Big Lake
Head Coach: Zach Barzee Section: 5A Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 16-10-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tate Spilde – F – Junior –21-21-42; Hayden Kipka – D – Junior – 3-5-8; Ethan Grafnitz – D – Junior –1-5-6; Thomas Zerwas – G – 12.00GAA - .742SV%
Season Expectations: Becker is coming off a winning season but lost most of their top scorers to graduation. They will need many new faces to step up in order to duplicate the production they had last season. Their top returning scorer is Tate Spilde who had 42 points last season.
Little Falls
Head Coach: Joey Hanowski Section: 5A
Conference: Granite Ridge
2023-24 record: 17-10-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Luke Avery - C/D – Senior – 19-24-43; Joey Welinski – W – Senior – 17-16-33; Ryan Oothoudt – F – Senior – 10-19-29; Izaak Kalis – Junior –2.48GAA - .928SV%
Season Expectations: Little Falls is a threat within this section and bring back four of their top five scorers. They will be lead by senior Luke Avery who had 43 points last season and looks to raise his game to the next level. They also bring back senior goaltender Izaak Kalis who had a 2.48GAA last season. This team will be a tough test for anyone they face.
Monticello Moose
Head Coach: Eric Nelson Section: 5A
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 21-6-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Landen Scherber – C/W –Senior – 23-33-56; Nicklas Nelson – D – Sophomore – 5-18-23; Liam O’Donnell – F – Junior – 6-10-16; Logan Blahnik –2.60GAA - .875SV%
Season Expectations: The Moose are another top team in the section and perhaps the most dangerous threat to St. CloudCathedral. They bring back their top scorer
in Landen Scherber who ha 56 points last season. This is a team that has expectations to make a deep postseason run.
Mora/Milaca Mustangs
Head Coach: Cam Wilken
Section: 5A Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 14-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Charlie Kritzeck – D – Senior – 13-21-34; Mitchell Haase – D –Junior – 5-5-10; Chase Radermacher – F – Senior – 3-0-3; Dane Price – G – Sophomore - 2.80GAA - .870SV%
Season Expectations: The Mustangs are coming off a winning season and are looking to duplicate that. Their top returning scorer is senior defensemen Charlie Kritzeck who had 34 points last season. They also bring back sophomore goaltender Dane Price who had a 2.80GAA last season
Pine City Area Dragons
Head Coach: Seth Sauter
Section: 5A
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 12-14-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): McCall Leger – F – Junior –20- 35-55; Blake Painovich – F – Senior – 10-16-26; Logan Kirby – D – Senior – 2-14-16; Aaron Rootkie – Senior –3.98GAA
Season Expectations: Pine City Area bring back a lot of experience this season and expects to propel themselves into the winning column. They bring back top scorer in junior forward McCall Leger who totaled 55 points last season. They also bring back senior goaltender, Aaron Rootkie who had a 3.98GAA last season
Princeton Tigers
Head Coach: Andy Fondrick
Section: 5A
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 11-13-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lane Olson – F – Senior – 35-14-49; Brody Kok – F – Senior –13-16-29; Dominic Patnode – D – Senior – 6-13-19; KoleRoth – G – Senior – 3.51GAA
Season Expectations: The Tigers are another team that was a shy under .500 last season and bring back a lot of experience which could help push them into a winning season. They return their top two scorers in Lane Olson and Brody Kok who had 49 and 29 points last season, respectively.
River Lakes Stars
Head Coach: Zach Johnson
Section: 5A
Conference: Central Lakes
2023-24 record: 15-10-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Blake Schultz – C – Senior –27-24-51; Parker Welz – W – Junior – 1721-38; Jace Griffin – D – Senior – 6-1622; Daniel Mooney – Senior – 1.50GAA - .897SV%
Season Expectations: The Stars return much depth upfront and also top scorer Blake Schultz who had 51 points last season. On the back end, they will return two-year starters, Jace Griffin and Brock Bruntlett. Senior, Daniel Mooney, will be starting this season in net.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm
Head Coach: Brady Degagne
Section: 5A
Conference: Mississippi 8
2023-24 record: 14-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Elijah Fitch – F – Junior – 17-17-34; Vince Murn – F – Senior –9-17-26; Bryden Prelvitz – F – Junior – 11-6-17
Season Expectations: The Storm lost two of their top three scorers to graduation but return Elijah Fitch who put up 34 points last season. They also bring back senior forward, Vince Munn, who totaled 26 points as a junior.
St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders
Head Coach: Robbie Stocker
Section: 5A
Conference: Granite Ridge
2023-24 record: 26-2-1
Top returning players (Position, Year,
G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: The Crusaders are coming off a state championship victory and are in a position to repeat. They lost some depth to graduation but bring back key pieces in John Hirschfeld, Joey Gillespie and Griffin Sturm. They will need some newcomers to help step up if they want to make another deep postseason run.
Section 6A
Alexandria Cardinals
Head Coach: Landon Olson Section: 6A Conference: Central Lakes 2023-24 record: 18-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Evan Klimek – F – Junior –7-16-23; Grady Olson – F – Sophomore – 8-13-21; Brody Berg – F – Junior –11-9-20
Season Expectations: The Cardinals lost their top five scorers from last season and will need to find ways to replace that production. Evan Klimek is their top scoring option and is coming off a season with 23 points. Their next top option is grady Olson who had 21 points this past year.
Breckenridge/Wahpeton Blades
Head Coach: Adam Wiertzema Section: 6A Conference: Mid-State 2023-24 record: 5-20-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jaxson Lopez – F – Sophomore – 9-13-22; Kai McDonald – F –Sophomore – 6-9-915; Isaiah Bruechert –F – Junior – 6-8-14; Cale Gilbertson – G – Sophomore – 5.58GAA
Season Expectations: The Blades are bringing back majority of their roster and will look to build off last years experience in order to earn more wins this season. Jaxson Lopez is their top returning scorer with 22 points.
Fergus Falls
Head Coach: Mike Donaghue Section: 6A Conference: Central Lakes 2023-24 record: 9-18-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jack Welde – F/D- 13-19-32; Michael Schmidt – F – Senior – 5-11-16; Aiden Schake – F – Senior – 6-5-11
Season Expectations: Fergus Falls lost their top two scorers to graduation but bring back senior Jack Welde who had 32 points last season. They will also rely on senior Michael Schmidt who totaled 16 points last season. The Otters lost a good portion of their roster to graduation and will be looking for some new faces to help step up.
Northern Lakes Lightning
Head Coach: Mike Randolph Section: 6A Conference: Granite Ridge 2023-24 record: 18-0-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Drew Paulbeck – C – Senior – 29-30-59; Jerome Martin – W/F – 18-21-39; Wyatt Balmer – D – Senior – 7-20-27
Season Expectations: Northern Lakes is the favorite to win this section and will be led by seniors Drew Paulbeck and Jerome Martin. Paulbeck is coming off a stellar season where he put 59 points and is looking to have another great year. The Lightning have the goal of making a deep postseason run.
Prairie Centre North Stars
Head Coach: Chad Wehrman Section: 6A Conference: Mid-State 2023-24 record: 10-15-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): James Rieland – C – Junior – 17-27-44; Leyton Fuhs – W – Sophomore – 11-22-33; Aiken Lambrecht – W – Senior 9-11-20; Carter Holman – G –Senior – 3.65GAA
Season Expectations: The North Stars bring back a healthy portion of their roster and look to build more chemistry as a unit this year. They will be lead by junior, James Rieland, who had 44 points last season. They also bring back senior
Carter Holman who will hold things down in net and is coming off a year with a 3.65GAA.
Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines
Head Coach: Robby Grendahl Section: 6A Conference: Mid-State 2023-24 record: 7-16-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Carson Davis – C – Senior – 22-14-36; Cooper Ness – C/W – Senior – 17-16-33; Milo Rinio – F – Senior – 7-9-16
Season Expectations: The Wolverines bring back a heavy portion of their roster and are looking to use that solid core’s experience to win more games this season. They are senior-laden across the board and will look to put together a winning season.
Willmar Cardinals
Head Coach: Jamie Hagen Section: 6A Conference: Central Lakes 2023-24 record: 7-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Gibson Horyza – F – Junior – 15-9-24; Aden Jacobson – F – Sophomore – 7-7-14; Eli Hagen – F – Sophomore – 3-10-13
Season Expectations: Willmar lost two of their top scorers but bring back top scorer, Gibson Horyza, who had 24 points last season. They will be starting a new goaltender in net this season in junior Ian Ziehl. East Grand Forks.
Section 7A
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks
Head Coach: Shea Walters Section: 7A Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 13-14-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Bobby Thornton – F – Senior – 24-16-40; Niko Gentilini – F – Senior – 11-25-36; Karson Young – D – Senior – 7-21-28; Jacob Iallonardo – 2.51GAA.896SV%
Season Expectations: The Lumberjacks being back their top four scorers in Bobby Thornton, Biko Gentilini, Karson Young and Grady Knutson. They will be heavily relied upon to help this team reach a winning record this season.
Ely/Northeast Range Timberwolves
Head Coach: Jake Myers Section: 7A Conference: Two Rivers 2023-24 record: 14-12-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Owen Marolt – F – Sophomore – 6-6-12; Jayden Zemke – D – Junior – 6-5-12; Garrett Rohr – F – Senior – 8-4-12; Ben Leeson – G – Senior –3.45GAA
Season Expectations: The Timberwolves are coming off a winning season and look to do it again. They lost their two top scorers and will rely on multiple role players to help step up and fill that lost production. Their top returning scorers are forwards Owen Marolt and Jace Huntbach who each had 12 points last season.
Hermantown Hawks
Head Coach: Patrick Andrew Section: 7A
Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 20-9-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): River Freeman – C- Senior – 22-27-49; Ford Skytta – C/W – Junior – 16-20-36; Henry Peterson – D – Senior – 11-13-24
Season Expectations: Hermantown looks to keep their chokehold over the section and win the section for the sixth straight time. They will be led by Mr. Hockey candidate, River Freeman, who had 49 points last season and is on a mission to lead this team to a state championship.
TOP 25 PLAYER
As the biscuit drops on the 2024-25 MSHSL hockey whet appetites and stir provincial debate. Players noting that as player rankings fluctuate week-to-week, We included worthy underclassmen, labeled as ‘UC’ below,
1. Cooper Simpson L/RW L 6’1”/170 Shakopee/Tri-City NoDak commit is the top-ranked regional player in the ’07 class. Dynamic release is key for this prepster averaging 2ppg over last 3 seasons. We think 80% chance of March sightings at the X if the Sabers can find a goalie and get past re-tooled Tonka in Section 2.
2. John Hirschfeld C L 5’8”/160 St Cloud Cath/Lincoln Plays wiser than his years with relentless forecheck and precision playmaking. Bounced from the NAHL to USHL this fall. Has he already done all he can in MSHSL? Yes, but Cathedral celebrating his return to size a second ring. Scouts love Hirsch’s compete level which is unmatched in the MSHSL. Vermont commit already off to fantastic start.
3. Brent Solomon RW R 5’11”/165 Champlin Park Led the Fall Elite League in points and was a crafty two-way player versus the state’s best. Plays ahead of the puck and finishes with accuracy. Held production well versus Shattuck and USNTDP-U17s. Dynamic trajectory led to recent verbal to Bucky Badger.
4. Nolan Geerdes D L 5’11”/165 Rogers Future Western Mich. Bronco is an effortless skater, especially in transition. Calm QB on the PP. Fundamentally sound. Leads by example as perfect team player with four assists versus Shakopee in early test.
5. Max Bennett C/RW R 6’2”/190 Cretin-DH Balanced, productive scorer burst onto scene in Fall Elites playing for Team Wiscy but is a local Raider worth a peek. Gritty 2-way player plus, that size? Can’t coach that. Rising star with complete three-zone game.
6. Freddie Schneider (UC) L/RW R 5’11”/150 Edina Finished Elite League as a top-10 scorer dishing dimes day and night. All the while as a 15-year-old sophomore! Creative smooth glider finds the open lanes and pockets Rumors fly that he will join the USNTDP U-17s next fall.
7. Jimmy Dodig D L 6’5”/205 Cretin D-H When he builds up speed, look out or you’ll be embedded with glass shards and splinters. Merrimack recruit is becoming more offensively stout to fill the toolbox.
8. Mason West C/LW R 6’5”/207 Edina Long, smooth playmaker will need a month to get his gridiron legs in ice shape. Once he does, will be a legit two-way threat only needing more sustained forecheck aggression.
9. Mason Jenson C/LW L 5’9”/161 Rogers Future Buckeye is team pacesetter and dynamic scorer. If Rogers doesn’t win Section 5 this year? They never will.
10. Henry Lechner LW R 6’2”/205 Holy Angels 200 pts in the books at start of senior year? One can argue SOS all they want, but 200 pts is two hundred points! Tommie recruit is a leader, grinder, and playmaker.
11. Brody Dustin C/L/RW R 5’9”/170 Stillwater Stillwater leading returning scorer and #1 set up man. Terrific motor, three-zone pace. Champlin Park’s Brent Solomon led the Elite League in scoring and recently committed to the University of Wisconsin.
Nolan Geerdes is the top-ranked defenseman and looks to lead Rogers to their first state tournament berth. Cooper Seigert has put up big numbers for Shakopee.
Cooper Simpson averages a pair of points per game and is considered the top player in his class.
PLAYER RANKINGS
hockey season we thought a Top 25 player profile might Players listed are pulled from a group of regional scouts week-to-week, the following will prove most consistent. below, but our list is weighted toward upperclassmen.
12. Zac Zimmerman (UC) L/RW R 5’11”/185 Moorhead Smart playmaker, crafty beyond his years. Drives their outstanding junior class
13. Nate Chorlton C L 5’8”/161 Cretin D-H CC commit is the ‘Brody Dustin of Cretin’. Waterbug playmaker worth the parking hassle at the Charles M. Schulz lot.
14. Mason Kraft LW L 5’11”/190 Moorhead Another ‘spudstar’. A tank on the wing with a 2:1 assist-to-goal ratio. Team leader.
15. Junior Podein RW R 5’7”/145 Benilde S-M Bronco commit is MSHSL version of Martin St. Louis. Wind him up and let him go!
16. Graham Greeder D L 5’10”/162 Hill-Murray Not the size and grit of D alum, Leo Gruba, but the rest of the toolbox is present.
17. Taven James C/LW L 5’10”/176 Warroad Slippery playmaker and finisher. Great vision, consistent effort, and total team player.
18. Easton Cody G L 5’11”/174 Centennial Calm centerpiece on a down year for his squad. If he gets hot? Sectional upset central.
19. Boden Sampair LW R 5’10”/181 Hill-Murray Facilitator. Quiet assassin. Hold him in check for 50 minutes? He’ll burn you in the 51st.
20. Cooper Seigert LW/RW R 5’8”/150 Shakopee Diminutive three-zone driver and balanced scorer. Drives the train for the Sabers.
21. River Freeman LW/RW R 6’/185 Hermantown Entering 3rd year on varsity after fall stint in the NAHL. Productive with over a ppg avg.
22. Patch Cronin D L 5’10”/174 St Thomas Acad Stalwart d-man is whisper quiet, smooth and seals attacks with textbook fundamentals.
23. Luca Jarvis (UC) C/LW/RW R 5’11”/170 Stillwater Nov ’08-born, but too good not to be on our list. In 24 HS games has netted 22 pts. Star in-the-making. Catch him in the MSHSL circuit while you can!
24. Henry Peterson D R 6’3”/185 Hermantown Future Tommie developing O-zone talents, but a nice northwoods shutdown Dman. Kind of player that magically ends up playing for the Winnipeg Jets…IYKYK.
25. Carter Casey G L 6’2”/174 Grand Rapids Not Brimsek eligible but makes list regardless. Already possesses a silky goalie toolbox. Quick-twitch athlete with textbook laterals. Will rival Slukynsky ’23 draft status chatter.
Honorable Mention:
F – Brooks Cullen, Moorhead
D – Nate Garski, Grand Rapids
F – Ty Bergeson, Moorhead
G – Cody Niesen, St Thomas Acad
F – Blake Vanek, Stillwater
D – Brandon Mickelson, Moorhead
as of 12/3/2024
Jimmy Dodig is one of three CDH players in the top 25.
Taven James is the next up-and-comer from Warroad.
Boden Sampair has emerged as a top talent for a top program.
Brody Dustin and his Stillwater teammates have high hopes this season.
Greenway Raiders
Head Coach: Andy Sertich
Section: 7A
Conference: Iron Range
2023-24 record: 5-18-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Bryce Nielson – F – Junior -2-5-7; Brayden Nielsen – F – Junior –3-3-6; Max Gangl – D – Senior – 1-4-5
Season Expectations: The Raiders lost their top five scorers to graduation and will look for several players to step up this season. Their top two returning players are junior forwards in Bryce Nielson and Brayden Nielson.
International Falls Broncos
Head Coach: Chad Baldwin Section: 7A Conference: Iron Range
2023-24 record: 6-19-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Cooper Crandall – C – Senior – 15-18-33; Zach Youso – Junior – 9-817; Asher Keep – F – Senior – 7-9-16; Kane Thompson – Junior – 4.69GAA Season Expectations: The Broncos bring back their top three scorers from last season in Cooper Crandall, Zach Youso and Asher Keep. They will look to create more chemistry this season in order to earn some more wins.
Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets
Head Coach: Aaron Jamnick Section: 7A
Conference: Luke Superior 2023-24 record: 19-9-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tate Swanson – F – Junior –12-36-48; Isaiah Hildenbrand – F – Junior – 22-16-38; Kelin Elsner – F – Junior – 19-18-37; Rex Walli – G – Senior –1.79GAA
Season Expectations: The Bluejackets bring back majority of their roster from last season and are a legitimate threat to end Hermantown’s dominance over this section. They bring a lot of talent to the table and have the potential to make a run towards the state championship. They return their top scorers in Tate Swanson, Isaiah Hildenbrand, Kelin Eisner and Jackson Strukel who all had 30-plus point season this past year.
Proctor Rails
Head Coach: Jeff Laspi Section: 7A Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 19-8-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tanner Ross – C – Senior – 20-29-49; Austin Bryant – C/W – 20-17-37; Breckin Ross – Junior9-17-26; Brrayden Mclean – G – Senior – 2.67GAA
Season Expectations: Proctor is a top team in this section and are coming off a year where they went 19-8. They bring a good portion of their roster back and will be led by seniors Tanner Ross and Austin Bryant. Ross totaled 49 points last season while Bryant had 37.
North Shore Storm
Head Coach: Shawn Lundgren Section: 7A Conference: Iron Range 2023-24 record: 12-11-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Cole Anderson – C/W –Senior – 10-16-26; Ayden Althaus – C – Senior – 13-12-25; Jacob Carpenter – D – Senior – 7-16-23
Season Expectations: The Storm had a winning season this past year and are returning majority of their top guys. This team will use the experience they built last year in hopes of putting together back-to-back winning season.
Moose Lake Area Rebels
Head Coach: Chris Gamst
Section: 7A
Conference: Two Rivers 2023-24 record: 6-19-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Joey Olson – F – Senior –7-12-19; Michael Larson – F – Senior – 5-7-12; Henry Wyandt – D – Senior – 2-6-8; Dax Krech – G – Freshman5.84GAA
Season Expectations: The Rebels lost four out of their top five scorers and will look for some of their more experienced role players to step up and fill that void. Their top returning scorer is senior for-
Hall of Fame members honored at Wild game
Hall of Fame members and award winners gathered at a Minnesota Wild game where they were honored in between periods for their dedication and success in high school hockey. Pictured (from left) Mike MacMillan (Former Executive Director, Buffalo), Scott Oliver (East Grand Forks/Roseau), Dick Gustofson (Alexandria), Wes Bolin (Woodbury), and Bruce Plante (Hermantown, Cliff Thompson Award). Not pictured: Hall of Fame members Bob Rajanen (Red Wing), Dick Gustafson (Alexandria), Dave Peterson Award winner Aaron Johnson (Buffalo), Bruce Johnson Award winner Dustin Vogelsang (East Ridge) and Oscar Almquist Award winner Loren Nelson (Legacy Hockey).
ward Joey Olson who had 19 points last season.
Section 8A
East Grand Forks Green Wave
Head Coach: Tyler Palmiscno
Section: 8A Conference: Mariucci
2023-24 record: 18-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Hunter Varson – F – Senior – 12-15-27; Jace Van Eps – F – Senior – 12-13-25; Cooper Hills – F – Senior – 8-15-23; Ryan Rockstad – G – Senior –2.65GAA - .879SV%
Season Expectations: The Green Wave are the biggest threat to ending Warroad’s winning streak over the section. They lose their top three scorers from last season but will look for senior leadership from Hunter Varson, Jace Van Eps and Cooper Hills. This team is still deep and can make a deep playoff run.
Kittson County Central Bearcats
Head Coach: Robert Carr
Section: 8A
Conference: Northwest
2023-24 record: 2-24-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Wyatt Samuelson – F –Sophomore – 13-6-19; Isaac Gustafson – F – Senior – 9-6-15; Elijah Muir – F – Sophomore – 4-6-10; Jameson Turner –G – Senior – 4.68GAA
Season Expectations: The Bearcats are looking to build more chemistry this year and gain some valuable experience in hopes they pick up more wins along the way this season. Their top returning scorer is sophomore Wyatt Samuelson who had 19 points last season.
Lake of The Woods Bears
Head Coach: Don Krause
Section: 8A
Conference: Northwest
2023-24 record:16-10
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Brant Baron – F – Senior – 12-24-35; Dax Laplante – D – Sophomore – 12-8-20; Sawyer Stromlund – D –Senior – 3-11-14; Prem Wenell-Jack – G – Senior – 3.50GAA
Season Expectations: The Bearcats are coming off a winning season and have the potential to do it as they return a healthy portion of their roster. Their top returning scorer is Brant Baron who had 36 points last season and looks to improve as a senior.
Park Rapids Area Panthers
Head Coach: Bill Moore
Section: 8A
Conference: Northwest 2023-24 record: 19-6-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Kale Ravnaas – F- Senior -17-13-30; Finn Henry – F – Sophomore – 7-19-26; Connor Murdoff- D – Senior – 1-8-9; Trevor Lobeck – G – Senior –3.13GAA
Season Expectations: Park Rapids Area lost two of their top three scorers from return senior forward Kale Ravnaas who had 30 points last season. The Panthers will be starting senior goaltender, Trevor Lobeck, in net this year.
Red Lake Falls Eagles
Head Coach: Trevor Page Section: 8A Conference: Northwest 2023-24 record: 19-6-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Gavin Girdler – C/W –Senior – 40-27-67; Brock Seeger – F/D – 17-20-37; Denny Lanctot – F – Junior – 13-15-28
Season Expectations: Red Lake Falls is another top team in the section and return a very deep roster. Their top scorer Gavin Girdler had 67 points last season and is expected to have another big year as a senior. This is a tough team that will be a tough test for anyone they play.
Warroad Warriors
Head Coach: Jay Hardwick Section: 8A Conference: Mariucci 2023-24 record: 25-6-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Taven James – C/W – Senior – 22-39-61; Broden Hontvet – D – Junior – 6-27-33; Ryan Shaugabay – F – Junior – 7-10-17
Season Expectations: Warroad is looking to win the section for the fourth straight year and continue their dominance. They will need to find ways to replace some top production from last year as they have lost three of their top four scorers. Their top returning scorer is Taven James who is coming off a 61 point year. This team looks to reload in certain roles but still has the potential to make a deep run.
Thief River Falls Prowlers
Head Coach: Kyle Anderson Section: 6A Conference: Mariucci 2023-24 record: 15-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Spencer Anderson – F –Sophomore – 17-15-32; Rylan Lee – F – Senior – 4-14-18; Paul Anderson – F –Senior – 4-4-8
Season Expectations: The Prowlers have lost four out of their top five scorers from last season but still expect to be a
competitive team this season. Their top two returning scorers are Spencer Anderson and Rylan Leake who had 32 and 18 points last season, respectively.
Farmington Tigers
Head Coach: David May Section: 1AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 7-20
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jacob Miller – C/W – Senior – 9-10-19; Jacson Donahue – F – Junior – 5-9-14; Kellen Conway – 1-11-12; Christoper Bade– 3.83GAA - .910SV%
Season Expectations: The Tigers return a majority of their roster from last season and their brightest spot is junior goaltender Christoper Bade. Bade had a great sophomore season and had a .910SV% while averaging 40+ shots per game. The Tigers also return their top nine scorers and will look to keep improving this season
Lakeville South Cougars
Head Coach: Josh Storm Section: 1AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 16-11-0
Top returning players: Jackson Ernst –C – Senior – 23-14-37; Will Kortan – F –Senior – 11-18-29; Brayden Olsen – F – Senior – 8-16-24; Carson Hauger – G –Senior – 2.53GAA - .918SV%
Season Expectations: Lakeville South is the favorite to win this section and will attempt to win again for the sixth time in the past seven years. They are coming off a 16-11 season but return their top three scorers in seniors Jackson Ernst, Will Kortan and Brayden Olsen.
Lakeville North Panthers
Head Coach: Jake Taylor Section: 1AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 6-18-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Gunnar Conboy - F – Sophomore – 13-9-22; Drew Thompson – F – Senior – 6-10-16; Blake Bachmeier – F – Junior – 6-6-12; Carter Mayfield – G –Senior – 3.27GAA - .901SV%
Season Expectations: The Panthers return a healthy portion of their roster from last season and will look to build off the experience they picked up last year. They return two of their top three scorers in Gunnar Conboy and Drew Thompson who had 22 and 16 points last season, respectively.
New Prague Trojans
Head Coach: Brad Drazan Section: 1AA Conference: Metro West
2023-24 record: 15-9-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Connor Williams – C/W –Senior – 20-18-38; Easton Bosch – C/F – Senior – 8-10-18; Cade Borwege – D –Junior – 4-7-11; Cole Murphy
Season Expectations: The Trojans return many defensemen with varsity experience as well as two senior goaltenders. Senior goaltender Cole Murphy finished last season with a 3.03GAA and .898SV%. Connor Williams is their top returning scorer and is coming off a season where the accumulated 38 points.
Owatonna Huskies
Head Coach: Dennis Will Section: 1AA
Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 18-6-3
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Andrew Mitchell – F – Senior – 11-17-28; Zachary Knott – F – Senior – 13-4-17; Jackson Kath – F – Junior – 4-12-16; Garrett Stelter – G – Senior –3.46GAA - .765SV%
Season Expectations: The Huskies are coming off a 18-6-3 season but lost their top three scorers due to graduation. Seniors Andrew Mitchell and Zachary Knott are their top returning scorers.
Rochester Mayo/JM Panthers
Head Coach: Josh Klingfus/Matt Erredge Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 22-6-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ole Fevold – F – Senior –19-17-36; Brock Clarey – C/F – Senior – 12-19-31
Season Expectations: The Panthers are another team coming off a stellar season but lost multiple impact players due to graduation. The team loses five of their top seven scorers and will look for new faces to help step up to replace that production. Their top returning scorer is Ole Fevold who had 36 points last season.
Rochester Mayo Spartans
Head Coach: Matt Notermann Section: 1AA Conference: Big 9
2023-24 record: 3-22-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Rocco Corl – F – Senior –7-7-14; Jacob Canfield – F – Junior – 5-38; Thomas Verdick – D – Senior – 1-4-5; Dawson Desjardins – G – Junior – 1-121-3.07GAA - .909SV%
Season Expectations: Rochester Mayo will look to continue building their program after gaining some experience last season. Their top returning scorer is senior Rocco Corl who totaled 14 points last year.
Section 2AA
Chaska Hawks
Head Coach: Ryan Siiro Section: 2AA Conference: Metro West
2023-24 record: 5-22-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ty Smith – F – Senior –12-17-29; Tyler Schmieg – F – Senior –8-11-29; Ryan Jierle – F – Junior – 8-715; Tyler Nesheim – G – 5.40GAA Season Expectations: Chaska returns most of their roster from last year and will look to use the experience they gained last year in order to pick up more wins. Their top returning scorer is Ty Smith who had 29 points last season.
Eden Prairie Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Terwilliger Section: 2AA Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 17-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Mason Moe – F – Junior –23-17-4-; Rio Treharne – Senior – F – 1128-39; Ben Box – F – Senior – 11-22-33; Bennett Wilmer – G – Junior – 1.50GAA Season Expectations: Eden Prairie will be a talented team and look to advance to the state tournament this year. They return a lot of players at the top of their roster from last season, including their top two scorers in Mason Moe and Rio Treharne.
Burrows is 2024 Mr. Hockey
Holy Family Catholic Fire
Head Coach: Zach Friedli
Section: 2AA Conference: Wright County 2023-24 record: 16-8-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Bryce Wiitala – C/W – 1120-31; Carson Moe – D – Senior – 2-2022; Adam Crosby – F – Junior – 6-15-21; Adam Kimbrel – G – Senior - 2.41GAA Season Expectations: The Fire will be a very competitive team within the section that no one should look over. They will be led offensively by Bryce Wiitala, Adam Crosby, Tanner Davis and Sawyer Graubins. They also bring back senior goaltender, Adam Kimbrel, who had a 2.41GAA last season.
Minnetonka Skippers
Head Coach: Sean Goldsworthy
Section: 2AA
Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 25-1-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ashton Schultz – Senior –C – 23-32-55; Danny Kalers – Senior – D – 5-15-20; Devin Berg – Senior – D – 1-12-13; Ben Ferguson – Senior – G –0.75GAA
Season Expectations: Minnetonka will have a lot of new fresh faces on their team this season looking for varsity experience as they were completely gutted due to graduation. But they are a perrenial power that doesn't rebuild, but reloads. They will be good.
Waconia Wildcats
Head Coach: Anthony Reynolds
Section: 2AA
Conference: Metro West
2023-24 record: 1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Charlie Junge- F – Senior –9-8-17; Drew Puchner – F – Senior – 8-513; Kaden Herman – F – Senior – 4-8-12; Brody Butler – G – Senior – 4.12GAA
Season Expectations: The Wildcats gained valuable experience last season and the core of the team looks to continue building upon that. Their top returning scorer is senior Charlie Junge who had 17 points last season
Shakopee Sabers
Head Coach: Calvin Simon
Section: 2AA Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 21-5-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Cooper Siegert – F – Junior 29-29-58; Cooper Simpson – F – Senior – 29-25-54; Nate Pederson – F – Junior –20-32-52
Season Expectations: Shakopee is the favorite to win the section and returns a majority of their roster from last season. They have plenty of deep across the board and boast three 50-plus point scorers from last season in Cooper Siegert, Cooper Simpson and Nate Pederson.
Prior Lake Lakers
Head Coach: Joe Pankratz Section: 2AA Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 12-12-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Levi Eiter – F – Senior – 169-25; Tristan Pownall – D – Senior – 2-810; Parker Wenkus – F – Junior – 5-3-8; Michael Walz – G – Senior – 3.89GAA
Season Expectations: Prior Lake is coming off a .500 season and will need to reload this season as they lost five of their top six scorers from last season. Their top returning scorer is Levi Eiter who had 25 points this past season
Chanhassen Storm
Head Coach: Sean Bloomfield Section: 2AA
Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 25-6-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jack Gleason – C/W – Senior – 5-12-17; Ryan McPartland – F – Senior – 5-10-15; Logan Smith – C/W – Junior 4-1-5; Grant Atterson – G – Junior –0.85GAA
Season Expectations: Chanhassen is coming off a stellar year but were decimated by graduation losses and only return six players from last year. This team will have plenty of new faces looking to gain varsity experience.
Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars
Head Coach: Matt Elsen
Section: 2AA
Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 8-17-1
Top returning players (Position, Year,
G-A-PTS): Mason Van Brunt – Junior –11-14-25; Kaden Larson – C/W – Junior – 6-11-17; Frankie Schmitz – 3-14-17
Season Expectations: The Jaguars are looking to continue building after gaining some valuable experience last season. They will be led by junior forward Mason Van Brunt who had 25 points last year. They will also rely on juniors Kaden Larson and Frankie Schmitz who each had 17 points as a sophomores.
Section 3AA
Apple Valley/Burnsville Eagles
Head Coach: Tate Erickson Section: 3AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 5-21-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Fisher Hatfield – F – Senior – 4-14-18; Dylan Otten – F – Senior – 106-16; Ryder Mills – F – Senior – 3-5-8; Max Wiggins – G – Senior – 4.45GAA - .876%
Season Expectations: The Eagles have 14 returning varsity players this season, including starting senior goaltender, Max Wiggins, who had 4.45GAA this past season. Their top returning scorer is senior forward, Fisher Hatfield, who put up 18 points last season. This team looks to be more competitive this season after gaining some valuable experience last year
Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders
Head Coach: Matt Funk Section: 3AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 19-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Nathan Chorlton – C – Junior – 14- 22-36; Max Anderson – W – Junior – 16-12-28; Marcus Matyas – C/F – 9-17-26; Owen Nelson – G – Senior –1.91GAA - .909SV%
Season Expectations: The Raiders are coming off a third place finish at state last year and have the potential to make another deep postseason run. They are the favorite to win the section for the fourth straight year and are a legitimate contender to win it all.
Park of Cottage Grove Wolfpack
Head Coach: Jeff Corkish Section: 3AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 15-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Owen Corkish – C/W –Senior – 12- 30-42; Gavin Moss – W –Senior – 12-23-35; Caden Schwartz – D – Senior – 3-14-17 – Aidan Miller – G – Junior – 2.57GAA - .881SV%
Season Expectations: The Wolfpack are coming off a winning season and look to duplicate that again this year. They bring back three of their four top scorers in Owen Corkish, Gavin Moss and Caden Schwartz. Corkish is the most dangerous threat on this team and coming off a year where he accumulated 42 points.
Hastings Raiders
Head Coach: Matt Klein Section: 3AA
Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 16-10-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jon Harris – F – Senior –20-22-42; Brody Carlson – D – Senior – 1-10-11; Luke Wahlstrom – F – Senior – 6-5-11
Season Expectations: Hastings had a successful season last year and are looking to having a winning year again but they will need to find new faces to fill key roles. They lost two of their top three scorers but return senior forward, Jon Harris, who had 42 points as a junior.
Eastview Lightning
Head Coach: Aaron Fulton
Section: 3AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 18-8-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Sam Wooten – C/W – Junior – 1420-34; Max Powers-Brekke – D – Senior – 1-7-8; Shane Klein – D – Junior – 0-4-4 Season Expectations: The Lightning has a solid defensive core coming back this season but also lost many players due to graduation. There will be a lot of new faces for this team looking for their
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNOR RYAN, SIOUX CITY MUSKETEERS Hagen Burrows a Tampa Bay Lightning, 4th round pick #128 wing is currently playing for the Denver Pioneers in NCAA hockey.
first taste of varsity experience. Their top returning scorer is, Sam Wooten, who had 34 points last season.
Eagan Wildcats
Head Coach: Todd Carlson Section: 3AA
Conference: South Suburban 2023-24 record: 11-14-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Charlie Forrester - D – Junior – 0-6-6; Blake Prouty – D – Senior – 2-46; Ben Steinke – C – Senior – 3-3-6; Marcus Bonifas – G – 3.00GAA - .842SV%
Season Expectations: The top portion of the Wildcats roster was gutted due to graduation as they lost their top nine scorers. Their top returning option is Charlie Forrester who had six points last season. They will look for fresh blood to hopefully gain some varsity experience and start to make their mark upon the program.
St. Thomas Academy Cadets
Head Coach: Mark Strobel Section: 3AA Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 17-9-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jackson Rudh – F – Senior – 30- 21-51; William Dosan – C/W –Senior – 17-21-38; Michael Mikan – C –Senior – 14-14- 28; Cody Niesen – Senior – 1.88GAA
Season Expectations: The Cadets are the biggest threat to end Cretin-Derham Hall’s dominance over the section the past three seasons. They return a ton of talent this season along with a very deep roster. They will be led by senior leaders, Jackson Rudh, who had 51 points last season along with William Dosan who had 38.
Two Rivers Warriors
Head Coach: Brandon Ferraro Section: 3AA Conference: Metro East
2023-24 record: 17-9-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Eddie Auran – F – Senior –18-17- 35; Preston Gamer – F – Senior – 11-13-24; Patrick Karlsen – F – Junior – 12-3-15
Season Expectations: Two Rivers is coming off a winning season and return two of their top three scorers from last season in senior Eddie Auran and Preston Gamer. Auran finished last season with 35 points while Gamer had 24.
Section 4AA
East Ridge Raptors
Head Coach: Dustin Vogelsang
Section: 4AA Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 4-21-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Blake Kohnen – F – Senior – 7-9-16; Ivan Schmitz – W/F - Junior –5-7-12; Lance Kohnen – D – Sophomore – 4-6-10; Zane Lanahan – G – 3.41GAA - .885SV%
Season Expectations: This team has a good mixture between upper and underclassmen going into this season. They will be led by upperclassmen, Blake Kohnen and Ivan Schmitz. They also bring back senior goaltender Zane Lanaha who had a .885SV% last season.
Gentry Academy Stars
Head Coach: Kyle Follmer Section: 4AA Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 20-7-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ryder Betzold – F – Senior –24-23- 47; Brock Fairbanks – F – Senior – 9-22-31; Jacob Guille – D – Senior – 7-15-22; Wyatt Sander – Senior – G –1.31GAA
Season Expectations: Gentry Academy will be a competitive team within the section and will be led by senior Ryder Betzold who had 47 points as a junior. They did lose three out of their top four scorers but bring back most of their defensive unit.
Hill-Murray
Head Coach: Kyle Follmer
Section: 4AA
Conference: Metro East 2023-24 record: 17-9-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Boden Sampair – C/W –Senior –21-20-41; Landon Cottingham – D – Senior – 10-18-28; Chaz Lentz – F – Junior – 12-15-27; Jackson Johnson – G – Senior - 1.38GAA
Season Expectations: The Pioneers return 11 starters from last season and are arguably the favorite to win this section. They bring back their top three scorers in Boden Sampair, Landon Cottingham and Chaz Lentz. Sampair finished his junior season with 41 points. Hill-Murray has the goal to win another state championship behind the leadership of legendary coach, Bill Lechner.
Mounds View Mustangs
Head Coach: Kyle Follmer Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 7-17-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Mitch Olson – F – Senior –8-16- 24; Toby Walseth – F – Sophomore – 0-5-5; Chase Ballinger – F – Sophomore – 2-1-3; Sam Moen – G – Senior –4.02GAA - .874SV%
Season Expectations: Mounds View will be introducing a lot of new players looking to gain some varsity experience as they lost several players to graduation. Their top returning scorer is senior forward, Mitch Olson, who accumulated 24 points last season.
Roseville Raiders
Head Coach: Scott Steffen
Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East
2023-24 record: 8-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jacob Villella – C – Senior – 14-14- 28; Billy Connelly – F – Senior – 13-14-27; Jake Troska – W – Senior – 9-11-20; Cooper Stevens – G- Junior –4.19GAA
Season Expectations: Roseville should be taking a step in the right direction this season as they returning a majority of their roster. They will be more competitive this season as they return their top three senior scorers from last year in Jacob Villella, Billy Connelly and Jake Troska.
Stillwater Ponies
Head Coach: Greg Zanon
Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East
2023-24 record: 15-10-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Brody Dustin – F – Senior – 17-28-45; Blake Vanek – F – Senior – 17-24-41; Luke Myers – F – Senior –14-24-38; Landon Huber – G – Senior – 1.48GAA
Season Expectations: Stillwater should remain a competitive team this year as they return a heavy amount of their roster from this past season. They return two 40-plus point scorers in senior forwards BrodyDustin and Blake Vanek.
Tartan Titans
Head Coach: Cole Leitch
Section: 4AA
Conference: Metro East
2023-24 record: 3-22-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tate Bertelsen – C – Senior –8-6- 14; Jase Buche – F – Senior – 5-1014; Benny McLellan – F – Sophomore –2-4-6; Nathan McGuire – G – Sophomore – 3.50GAA
Season Expectations: Tartan will look to continue building forward after gaining some experience last season. Their brightest spot comes in the form of seniors Tate Bertelesen and Jase Buche who each had 14 points last season.
White Beach Lake Bears
Head Coach: Chris Anderson
Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East
2023-24 record: 20-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Will Distad – D – Senior – 7-22-29; Jack Stanius – W – Senior –8-15-23; Tyler Lalonde – W/F – Junior – 11-8-19; Leo Grabriel – G – 1.95GAA - .922SV%
Season Expectations: White Bear Lake is coming off a state tournament berth but will still have to contend with Hill-Murray. They are the Pioneers biggest threat in the section, per usual. They bring back
impactful seniors in goaltender, Leo Gabriel, Will Distad and Jack Stanius. These upperclassmen hope to lead the way to another state tournament appearance.
Woodbury Royals
Head Coach: Wes Bolin
Section: 4AA
Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 11-15-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Aiden Grossklaus – W/F –Senior – 27-18-45; Matthew Tarlton – D – Senior – 10-12-22; Caden Schlattman –D – Senior – 7-13-20; Mciahel Pietruszewski – 3.35GAA
Season Expectations: Woodbury brings back their top seven scorers and look to jump into the winning column this season. They also bring back their starting goaltender in Michael Pietruszewski who had a 3.35GAA this past season.
Section 5AA
Blaine Bengals
Head Coach: Trevor Frischmon Section: 5AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 6-20-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Franklin Loo – F – Junior –9-12-21; Sam Shaughnessy – F – Senior – 9 – 10-19; Tanner Ferdig – D – Junior – 6-8-14; Landon Palmgren – G – Senior – 4.37GAA
Season Expectations: Blaine is looking to improve this season as they bring back their top four upperclassmen scorers from last season in Franklin Loo, Sam Shaughnessy, Tanner Ferdig and Landon Palmgren. They also bring back senior goaltender in Landon Palmgren who had a 4.37GAA last season.
Centennial Cougars
Head Coach: Ritch Menne
Section: 5AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 21-8-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Gavin Cunnigham – Junior –C/W – 6-18-24; Joseph Hemr – W – Junior – 10-9-19; Nicholas Carls – C – Junior –10-5-5
Season Expectations: ): The Cougars are coming off a state tournament berth but have some reloading to do as they lost their top four scorers from last season. They bring back juniors, Gavin Cunnigham and Joseph Hemr who look to step up in bigger roles this year.
Champlin Park Rebels
Head Coach: Tom Potter Section: 5AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 16-10-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Brent Soloman – F – Senior –34-14-48; Nick Carlson – C – Senior – 1312-25; Evan Long – D – Senior – 1-21-22; Cam Driefke – 3.83GAA
Season Expectations: The Rebels are looking to put together another winning season as they bring back a healthy portion of their top guys. They will be led by senior forward Brent Soloman who had 48 pints last season. Seniors Nick Carlson and Evan Long look to improve and step into bigger roles this season as well.
Irondale-St. Anthony Knights
Head Coach: Jerry Hayes Section: 5AA Conference: Tri-Metro 2023-24 record: 13-13-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Grady Springborn – F –Senior – 12-10-22; Lincoln Urdahl – F – Senior – 9-11-20; Logan Forrest – F –Junior – 9-8-17
Season Expectations: The Knights are coming off a .500 season and are looking to have a winning season as they returning much of their roster from last season. They bring back their top four scorers in upperclassmen, Grady Springborn, Lincoln Urdahl, Logan Forrest and Gavin Fagerlee.
Maple Grove Crimson
Head Coach: Todd Bergland Section: 5AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 21-7-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: Maple Grove has won the section four out of the last five years but the Crimson are in rebuilding mode. They lost six out of their top eight scorers to graduation and will need some fresh faces to step up. Their top returning scorer from last season is senior Brady Aubut who totaled 20 points.
Osseo
Head Coach: David Prokop Section: 5AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 7-18-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Gavyn Krzoska – C/W –Senior – 14-14-20; Bennet Prokop – C/W – Senior – 10-18-28; Jake Sawicky – C – Senior – 9-19-28; Gavin Phenow – G –Senior – 4.96GAA
Season Expectations: Osseo brings back a majority of their roster from last season that gained a lot of valuable experience. The Orioles retained their top four scorers in Gavyn Krzoska, Bennet Prokop, Jake Sawicky and Brenden Kranz
Rogers Royals
Head Coach: David Brown Section: 5AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 18-7-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Nolen Geerdes – D – Senior – 7-36-43; Parker Deschene – C – Senior – 13-29-42; Mason Jenson – C/W – Senior – 16-20-36
Season Expectations: Rogers brings back a lot of key guys from last season and are very upperclassmen laden. They have a good chance to win the section and earth their first trip to the state tournament ever. They will be led by seniors, Noelen Geerdes, Parker Deschene and Mason Jenson.
Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids Panthers
Head Coach: Connor Gagnon Section: 5AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 12-13 (As Spring Lake) 16-10 (As Coon Rapids)
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS):
Season Expectations: This is the first season these two programs are being integrated together and they will have a heavy group of seniors. This team will be led by captains, Teddy Wackman, Drew Lindquist, Cayden Alphin and Jack Engberg. They will have senior goaltender, Brock Lueck, in net.
Totino-Grace Eagles
Head Coach: Tim Parkos
Section: 5AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 14-12-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tre Peck – F – Senior – 2619-45; Noah Osland – F – Junior – 11-1526; Colton Horak – F – Junior – 5-9-14; Matt Uremovich – Senior – 3.48GAA Season Expectations: The Eagles are coming off a winning season but lost four out of their top five scorers. They will need some role players to step up to the plate and replace that production. Their brightest spot on the roster is in the from of senior forward, Tre Peck, who posted 45 points last season.
Section 6AA
Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights
Head Coach: Ken Pauly
Section: 6AA
Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 21-5-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Cameron Kirschner – F –Senior -10-21-31; Junior Podein – F –Senior – 17-12-29; Mason Minor – F/D – Junior – 7-16-23; Matthew Perreault – G – 2.31GAA
Season Expectations: The Red Knights have arguably a top ten team in the state this season but need to find new ways to score as they lost two of their top three scorers. They will look to Cameron Kirschner and Junior Podein to step into bigger roles this season and lead the team.
Randolph becomes state's all-time wins leader
Mike Randolph etched his name into the history books Monday with his 708th victory as a head high school hockey coach. The longtime Duluth East coach was coaching his first game for Northern Lakes, his third team in the past five years.
Northern Lakes defeated Prairie Centre 11-0 at the Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud. With the win Randolph passes former Rochester Mayo coaching legend Lorne Grosso. Former Albert Lea head coach Roy Nystrom had 705 wins. Randolph became the third member of the 700-win club last season.
After the game Randolph was presented with a jersey with the Duluth East, St. Thomas Academy and Northern Lakes logos and the No. 708 on the back under his name. He addressed and then saluted the crowd with his hands in the air donning the jersey.
Randolph has coached on the high
Blake Bears
Head Coach: Rob McClanahan Section: 6AA
Conference: Metro Athletic
2023-24 record: 2-24-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Landon Bell – W – Junior –11-17-28; Joseph Erickson – F – Junior – 11-17-28; Charlie Moore – F – Junior – 3-7-10; Fuzz Aafadt- G – Senior –5.87GAA
Season Expectations: The Bears are looking to improve this season as they bring back majority of their roster. This team gained some valuable experience last year and bring back a solid core that is looking to string some wins together. They bring back their two top scorers in Landon Bell and Joseph Erickson who each had 28 points last season.
Edina Hornets
Head Coach: Curt Giles Section: 6AA
Conference: Lake
2023-24 record: 26-4-1
Season Expectations: The defending state champions look to not only win their section for the fourth straight season but are eyeing to become back-to-back state champions. The Hornets lost some key pieces but also retain some crucial players in forwards Mason West and Casey Vandertop. Edina continues to set a high standard and they will remain one of the best teams in the state this year.
Academy of Holy Angels Stars
Head Coach: Pat Griswold Section: 6AA Conference: Tri-Metro
2023-24 record: 16-10-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Henry Lechner – F – Senior –32-45-77; Cole Cheeseman – C – Forward – 27-37-64; Lincoln Ayers Assad – F – Junior –20-28-48
Season Expectations: Holy Angels is a top team in the state with legitimate state champion aspirations. They return 13 of their top 14 scorers and also return upperclassmen goaltenders in Luke
school and collegiate levels for more than 45 years and was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018. This is his first season with Northern Lakes.
Prior to joining Northern Lakes Randolph was head coach at Duluth East for 32 years, leading the Greyhounds to the state tournament 18 times, earning the championship twice. In addition to his Hall of Fame honor, Randolph was the Class AA Coach of the Year in 20122013. Randolph previously coached at Duluth Cathedral, Duluth Denfeld, University of Minnesota-Duluth and the College of St. Scholastica. He spent the past three seasons at St. Thomas Academy.
As a player, Randolph played on the 1976 US Olympic Team, four years in the minors, two years in the British Columbia major juniors and four years for Duluth Cathedral High School.
Marsalek and George Sill. The Stars will be a highly competitive team that looks to make a deep postseason run.
Hopkins Royals
Head Coach: Dylan Talkovic Section: 6AA Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 7-19-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Weston Schenkelberg – FSenior – 29-12-41; Kirill Udaltsov – F – 4-6-10; Wyatt Peterson – D – Senior –1-7-8; Isaac Winkler – G – 12 – 4.64GAA
Season Expectations: Hopkins is in a rebuilding year as they lost six of their top seven scorers from last year. They do bring back their top scorer in West Schenkelberg but will need new faces to step up if they want to produce some success.
Wayzata Trojans
Head Coach: Pat O’Leary Section: 6AA Conference: Lake
2023-24 record: 23-2-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Finn De St. Hubert – D – Senior – 1-23-24; Carson Clark – D –Senior – 3-20-23; Eli Molde – C – Junior – 8-9-17
Season Expectations: Wayzata is coming off a 23-2 season but lost their top six scorers from last season. They will be looking for seniors Finn De St. Hubert and Carson Clark to lead this team. This senior duo put up 20-plus point seasons last year.
St. Louis Park Orioles
Head Coach: Tyler Brodersen Section: 6AA Conference: Metro West 2023-24 record: 14-12-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Owen Anklam – D – Junior 4-18-22; Jack Betzer – D – Senior – 4-13-17; Ryan Moran – F – Senior –10-7-17; Brett Middleton – G – 2.74GAA - .889SV%
Season Expectations: St. Louis Park had a winning season last year and looks to replicate that but will need more guys to
step up in order to replace some of the scoring they lost last year. Owen Anklam is their top returning scorer and he accumulated 22 points on the season this past year.
Robbinsdale Armstrong/ Cooper Wings
Head Coach: Danny Charleston Section: 6AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 12-14-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Lewis Majkozak – F – Senior
– 13- 10-23; Logan Gatti – D – Senior
– 4-8-12; Brady Northrup – F – Junior –5-6-11; Ryan Melsha – Senior – 4.33GAA - .861SV%
Season Expectations: The Wings were a shy under .500 this past year and will strive to get over the hill and into a winning season. Their top returning scorer is senior forward Lewis Majkozak who had 23 points this past season and they also return senior goaltenders in Ryan Melsha and Braeden Cooper.
Section 7AA
Andover Huskies
Head Coach: Mark Manney Section: 7AA Conference: Northwest Suburban 2023-24 record: 18-9-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Luke Babineau – F/D – Senior – 10-13-23; KJ Sauer – C – Junior – 3-14-17; Keaton Coe – F – Junior –6-8-14
Season Expectations: Andover is look to make a return to the state tournament after dominating the section the past four out of five years. They lost five out of their top six scorers and will look to rely on senior Luke Baineau to lead this team. They also bring back senior goaltender, Cal Conway, who had a 2.48GAA last season.
Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets
Head Coach: Scott Overby Section: 7AA
Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 11-16-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Sean Brown – C – Senior – 10-25- 35; Josh Sauro – W – Senior – 20-11-31; Caleb Wisen – W – Senior – 13-13-26; Jaxon Sibell – G – Senior –3.44GAA
Season Expectations: The Bluejackets bring back a lot of depth from last season and return three out of their top scorers. Seniors Sean Brown and Josh Sauro both posted 30-plus point seasons last year.
Duluth Denfeld Hunters
Head Coach: Steve Pitoscia Section: 7AA Conference: Independent 2023-24 record: 10-16-1
Season Expectations: The Hunters lost eight out of their top nine scorers from last season and will be looking for new faces to help step up and replace that production. Senior Caden Cole is their top returning scorer and he finished with 21 points last season.
Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers
Head Coach: Shawn Bartlette Section: 7AA Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 15-10-2
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Pacey Adduono – F – Junior – 18- 11-29; Benson Peterson – C/W –16-13-29; Bennett Scissons – F – Junior 8-9-27
Season Expectations: Duluth Marshall is a top team in this section that returns majority of their roster. They will be led by juniors Pacey Adduono and Benson Peterson who each had 29 points last season.
LPH PHOTO BY JASON SORIA Randolph has been coaching for more than 45 years and now has more wins than any other high school coach in the state’s rich history.
Will NCAA ruling on CHL players affect college hockey?
by JOHN CONLEY
Let’s Play Hockey Contributor
The NCAA Division I council voted to make “major junior” hockey players eligible starting August 1, 2025. Players from Canada’s top junior leagues – Western, Ontario & Quebec – will be eligible next season for American Division I play.
What does it mean? How will it impact college hockey and its paths to get there?
THE CRASH
The cacophony signals a new world disorder. Texts, internet posts, and comments made in conversation declare impending destruction.
• “This will hurt American born players!”
• “RIP NAHL; BCHL”
• “College hockey gets deeper and more Canadian.” (Hockey East coach)
• “Maybe the death knell for anything below USHL.”
• “If the CHL-to-NHL route does not work out for someone, it means less opportunities for American born players to play NCAA hockey.”
• “This really makes the road tougher for the American high school kid looking to play college hockey.”
• “The USHL as we know it is effectively over.”
OPINION
My sense is that fear over entire leagues disappearing, and concern homegrown apple pie kids being suddenly inferior to their poutine-eatin’, maple syrup licking counterparts, is overblown.
It reminds me of a story told by longtime Interlachen Country Club golf pro Bill Kidd about a contemporary. Excited for the Senior Tour’s creation to capitalize on Arnold Palmer’s enduring popularity, Mr. Kidd queried, “won’t the same guys who always beat you just keep beating you?”
Alas, his friend would not go on to achieve fame and riches on the golf course. It did, however, serve to extend the earnings and relevancy of players like Don January and Hale Irwin. Golf,like hockey, is a meritocracy and there’s no way around that.
THE MATH
There are 64 Men’s Hockey teams this season at Division I level. For every addition like Long Island, Lindenwood, or Stonehill, it seems one is lost so the number hovers around 60.
(Between this article’s rough draft and revision, it was announced American International College in Massachusetts is leaving Division I.) RIP Huntsville and Wayne State, and before them Penn, Illinois-Chicago, U.S. International, and Northern Arizona.
Roster size for most schools is 26, meaning about 1,664 players are on a team right now. Less than 10% are from outside of North America, Canadians represent a little shy of 30%, and morethan 60% are American. Aside from an increasing European presence, the proportion of U.S. versus Canada is stable looking back more than 25 years.
The NCAA is unquestionably a viable route to the NHL, where 70% of players are North American with a 60/40 split of those favoring Canadians. Almost 40% of NHL players making their debut over the last three years coming from American colleges. It’s worth noting these aren’t all American, as many players from around the world choose a route through America college hockey before turning professional. This won’t change.
THE PATH
For the most part, youth hockey is played locally into the early teen years. Teams are comprised of players in proximity wherever the sport is played. The landscape then abruptly turns upside down for the best players. It is standard to leave home for Youth Tier I teams, Junior hockey, or Prep schools in hopes of realizing one’s ultimate hockey potential. Akin to gravity, nobody can avoid the reality that we are all limited by the force we can’t control. Finding a good fit is essential, but it's not possible to raise this ceiling by electing to play a certain level or in a specific league.
Teams succeed in competitive sports when they seek out players from anywhere and everywhere. Analyzing paths of players in the NHL or NCAA feels like staring at a plate of spaghetti. 5 players from the NCDC, including your three best? 2023 National Championship: Quinnipiac. NCAA players
as the top two picks of the 2024 NHL Draft? Yes. Neither is American! A Floridian was last year’s Big Ten Player of the Year while the hometown Gophers recently benefited, albeit for a short time, by attracting two Arizonans.
Teams will continue to look anywhere for the best players, and players can go anywhere to achieve on-ice success.
In the words of a respected NHL agent, “Life’s not fair. But hockey is. There are so many teams at so many levels and they’re all looking for players. If you continue to play you will eventually reach your potential, whatever level that is.” This will not change because NCAA teams are allowed to add CHL players. Nor does the desire for many to play as long aspossible, which is why I can’t jump on a bandwagon predicting rough waters for junior hockey at any level.
THE CASH
There is currently no meaningful Name, Image & Likeness windfall for hockey players. Weren’t we told Logan Cooley could only find an agreement for free sandwiches? Should NIL become prevalent, only American students will benefit. Anyone in the country on an F-1 student visa is prohibited from working, with very few exceptions that wouldn’t apply here. In other words, a professional team can’t pay to have a top foreign prospect develop at an American college like that can on a team in the Canadian junior leagues.
THE DASH
We’ll see a wave of Canadian players from the 60 CHL “major junior” teams appear on NCAA rosters, right?
In the short term, yes…if a ripple meets the definition of a small wave. I believe some teams with immediate needs will expand their target pool to include CHL players, and a small number will make that move.
Long term, yes too…but I don’t see it the same way others do. (It won’t be who you think.)
CHL teams contract players for multiple seasons and are not willing to release someone they are invested in to ply their trade elsewhere, which seems to be confirmed by recent league statements. CHL teams are also capped by rule on the number of “age outs” (this season’s players born in 2004) at 3 or 4
per team. The result is displaced players playing their last year for a provincial Jr. A team, starting college in Canada (usually on a USports hockey team), or moving on to a life without competitive hockey. College coaches interested in age out players for next season, or the current 19-year-olds that won’t remain in the CHL, are rekindling old relationships and working to build new ones. Major Junior players have always lived on “the dark side” as far as NCAA eligibility is concerned. No more. I predict a player or two will end up on a team here and there, while Tennessee State’s upstart program finds it much easier to field a competitive team in the ramp-up years.
On the other side of the coin, won’t there be a mad rush north or the border for promising American players? I don’t see it. The late-teen years already have a myriad of choices, and this merely adds another. The USHL isn’t failing in any way. Chicoutimi or Cedar Rapids? The Tri-Cities are nice this time of year…would you rather play for the Americans or Storm? Players will decide. College coaches will continue to make recommendations to their committed players, as the NHL teams will similarly suggest what’s best when they hold draft rights. We have already seen a few young players leave their teams to play for CHL teams. To be clear: a college-committed player switching leagues does not mean someone else’s NCAA opportunity was taken from them.
Long term, this is an event for NCAA coaches and Junior hockey executives. In the past players interested in American college hockey identified themselves by where they elected to play. In the future it won’t be as obvious so these coaches will have to do a little work to find out. USHL teams will draft players with an eye on the likelihood they’ll choose that route. Major Junior teams have always done this.
CONCLUSION
There’s no consensus on how things unfold. Ask dozens of insiders and you’ll hear scores of predictions. I feel like my old boss at the golf course. Won’t the same kids play NCAA hockey that were going to anyway?
College hockey will need to grow
by BRYAN ZOLLMAN
Let’s Play Hockey Publisher
As an avid fisherman I have been in a boat many times where lightning in the distance didn’t cause me much concern because “what are the chances, right?"
It’s far away, I’m close to shore… I’m comfortable and I have another half hour before I have to be concerned. And one more fish would be good. A half hour later and now the motor won’t kick over.
Yikes.
We have looked at the Canadian Hockey League as a distant threat for a long time. Maybe some of us haven’t even looked at it that way at all. Lightning behind the clouds, so to speak.
But a recent lawsuit and subsequent NCAA ruling will now allow CHL players NCAA eligibility.
Some may think, oh, well, it’s just lightning, and it’s far away. It won’t reach my boat.
But I think the storm is coming and
lightning is gonna strike college hockey again.
Hockey changed with the dissolving of the WCHA and the emergence of the Big Ten. Us old school WCHA fans who were born and bred on Friday night tilts between North Dakota and the Gophers were invested in the sport. We set our schedule around those games.
But college hockey changed. The WCHA went out to sea and the Big Ten and big money hockey came to port. The current 12-year-old doesn't know any better so a Gopher vs Ohio State rivalry suits them just fine. They don’t miss something they never experienced.
But now it is changing again and in a big way and it isn’t going to be great for the American hockey player and especially the Minnesota player.
Let me explain.
Currently Minnesota obliterates other states when it comes to Division I players. This season the State of Hockey has 249 players competing at the highest college level. The next best
state is Massachusetts at 117.
But that is about to change.
The CHL has 60 teams and more than 1,100 players. You could compare them to the United States Hockey League with 16 teams and 450-plus players and the North American Hockey League who has 32 teams, and both being strong feeder programs for Division I universities.
Currently there are 64 Division I hockey programs in the United States. American International College recently dropped their program so the number is now 63. Each college hockey roster can hold 26 players, meaning there are about 1,664 Division I hockey players in the country.
So what do all these numbers mean?
If there is a front door to Division I hockey, it just got expanded. The double doors are wide open. The problem is the house is already full. There aren’t enough players heading out the back door to the NHL or pro contracts, especially with fifth-year eligibility.
Some don’t think the eligibility rule will have an impact on college hockey stating that Canadian kids are generally uninterested in an American education. I beg to differ. A kid from Alberta who reaches age 20 in the CHL and is offered a chance to play four more years and earn an engineering degree is gonna hop at the chance. He would be ill-advised not to. And he probably has an advisor/agent who is going to stick his elbow in his ribs.
Even if that argument were true and kids were disinterested in American college and would rather age out at 20 in the CHL and try and hook on with the ECHL, it doesn’t mean coaches aren’t going to tap into that player pool. It's equivalent to me in my fishing boat on a school of slab crappies. Dead shorelines are just that...dead. I'm fishing the best spot.
Bemidji State University has already signed two CHL players. Once
Continued on Page 30
Boys Sections
Forest Lake Rangers
Head Coach: Jay Ekman
Section: 7AA Conference: Suburban East 2023-24 record: 11-14-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Cole Rivard – Senior - C/W
-14-16- 30; Ryder Siedow – W – Junior – 14-16-30; Blake Jacobson – C/W –Senior – 5-14-19
Season Expectations: Forest Lake brings back majority of their roster and will be using last years experience to help propel them into the winning column this season. They will be led by Cole Rivard and Ryder Siedow who each had 30 points last season.
Grand Rapids Thunderhawks
Head Coach: Grant Clafton
Section: 7AA Conference: Lake Superior 2023-24 record: 18-13-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Nathan Garski – F- Junior – 18-21-39; Seth Carlson – F – Junior –11-11-22; William Shermoen – D – Junior – 7-15-22; Carter Casey – G – Junior –2.42GAA
Season Expectations: Grand Rapids has the potential to win this section in backto-back years but will need to replace some offensive firepower as they lost three out of their top four scorers from last season. Their top returning scorer is junior, Nathan Garski, who had 39 points last season.
Northern Edge
Head Coach: Eric Thompson Section: 7AA Conference: Mississippi 8 2023-24 record: 2-22-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Ryan Troxell – F – Junior –5-1-6; Milo Hetland – D – Senior – 4-0-4; Gavyn Gutierrez – F – Junior – 0-3-3 Season Expectations: Northern Edge lost it’s three top scorers from last season and will be looking to keep building momentum forward as a program. Their top returning scorer is junior forward, Ryan Troxell, who had six points last season.
Rock Ridge Wolverines
Head Coach: Matt Niskanen
Section: 7AA Conference: Iron Range
2023-24 record: 20-6-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Caz Carlson – F – Junior –21-32-53; Grady Dimberio – C/W- Senior – 19-31- 50; Levi Flatley – F – Senior –11-14-25
Season Expectations: Rock Ridge is coming off a very successful season and return two of their top scorers in Caz Carlson and Grady Dimberio. Both players posted 50- plus points season this past year and are looking to take another leap this season.
Section 8AA
Bemidji Lumberjacks
Head Coach: Ben Kinne
Section: 8AA
Conference: Mariucci
2023-24 record: 9-17-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Briggs Knott – C/W – Senior – 11-13-24; Joseph Fankhanel – W/F –Senior – 9-14-23; Dom Arndt – C – Senior – 7-13-20; Tate Metcalf – G – Senior – 2.96GAA
Season Expectations: The Lumberjacks are a top team in the section that brings back majority of their roster. They are a legitimate threat as they bring back a senior laden team along with their top five scorers from last year.
Elk River/Zimmerman Elks
Head Coach: Ben Gustafson
Section: 8AA
Conference: Northwest Suburban
2023-24 record: 19-11-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Gavin Sperling – F – Senior – 9-16- 25; Tristan Kriech – W – Junior –8-10-18; Jake Christian – F – Senior 3-36; Gavin Greniuk – G-Senior - 2.33GAA
Season Expectations: The Elks are coming off a winning season but will need new faces to step up this season as they have lost majority of their offensive firepower from last season. Their top returning scorer is senior, Gavin Sperling, who finished last season with 25 points.
Brainerd Warriors
Head Coach: Jerr Johnson
Section: 8AA
Conference: Central Lakes
2023-24 record: 10-16-1
Top returning players (Position, Year,
G-A-PTS): Dylan Wikoff – C – Senior – 7-11- 18; Ryan Heinlen – C – Senior –3-10-13; Drew Haakonson – F/D – Junior – 2-10-12; Tristan Rollins – Junior – G – .750SV%
Season Expectations: The Warriors are in a rebuilding year as they lost a large part of their roster from last season. Their top returning scorer from last season is senior, Dylan Wikoff, who had 18 points last season.
Moorhead Spuds
Head Coach: Jon Ammerman Section: 8AA Conference: Mariucci 2023-24 record: 13-13-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Zac Zimmerman – C/W –Sophomore – 15-29-44; Mason Kraft – F -Senior – 15-25-40; Tyden Bergeson – F – Junior – 20-17-37; Charlie Stenehjem –G – Senior – 4.21GAA
Season Expectations: Moorhead is looking to recapture their dominance over this section as last year was the first time they have not won the section since 2019. They return an extremely deep roster and will be led by Zac Zimmerman and Mason Kraft who each had 40-plus point seasons last season.
Buffalo Bison
Head Coach: Aaron Johnson Section: 8AA Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 10-17-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Evan Hinnenkamp – F –Junior – 9- 13-22; Brandon Rodenwald – W/F – 10-7-17; Harvey Ylitalo – F – Senior – 9-8-17; John Manuel – G –2.42GAA
Season Expectations: Buffalo goes into this season after gaining some solid experience this past year. Their top returning scorer is junior, Evan Hinnenkamp, who had 22 points last season.
Roseau Rams
Head Coach: Greg Lund Section: 8AA Conference: Mariucci 2023-24 record: 18-7-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Jake Halvorson – F – Senior – 29- 30-59; Jude Wittrock – F – Junior – 3-16-19; Eli Wensloff – D – Senior –2-12-14
Season Expectations: The Rams are a strong team in this section but lost four out of their top five scorers from last
season and will need fresh blood to step up this season in order to replace that production. Their top returning player is, senior forward, Jake Halvorson, who had 59 points last season.
Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres
Head Coach: Ryan Hacker Section: 8AA Conference: Central Lakes 2023-24 record: 18-7-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Devin Jacobs – W – Sophomore – 8-19-27; Shaun Paulson – F – Senior – 10-16-26; Brayden Klande – C/W – Senior – 10- 13-24
Season Expectations: The Sabres have a good mixture of under and upperclassmen this season and are looking to build more chemistry this season. Their top two returning scorers are Devin Jacobs and Shaun Paulson who each had 25-plus point seasons last year.
St. Michael-Albertville Knights
Head Coach: Sean Fish Section: 8AA Conference: Lake 2023-24 record: 5-21-0
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Tanner Esterberg – F – Junior – 10- 9-19; Braeden Waller – C/W –Sophomore – 8-5-13; Blake Couet – D –Senior – 2-8-10
Season Expectations: The Knights are looking to keep gaining positive momentum as a program after gaining valuable experience this past year. Their top returning scorer is junior forward, Tanner Esterberg, who had 19 points this past season.
St. Cloud Crush
Head Coach: Pete Matanich Section: 8AA Conference: Central Lakes 2023-24 record: 11-15-1
Top returning players (Position, Year, G-A-PTS): Max Kiffmeyer – Senior –8-17-25; Nick Bierschbach – Senior – D – 13-10-23; Jackson Sheetz – Senior –4-4-8; Nathan Gohrman – G – 3.94GAA Season Expectations: St. Cloud lost two of their top three scorers from last season but return seniors, Max Kiffmeyer and Nick Bierschbach, who both had 20-plus point seasons this past year. They also return senior goaltender Nathan Gorman who will start in net this season.
Should hockey players bench press?
by SEAN SKAHAN
Let’s Play Hockey Contributor
This is a question that I am asked quite frequently. My answer is always “It depends.” It really depends on a number of factors. I hope to explain my best.
The bench press has always been one of the most popular exercises in the weight room. I can remember back to when I first started lifting weights. I always wanted to bench 225lbs because that was 2- 45-lb plate on each side of the bar. All of the stronger guys could do it and I was stuck doing 185lbs. "How much do you bench?" It is still probably a frequent question amongst all teenagers today.
Although some feel the bench press is a key exercise in any strength and conditioning program, there are some who disagree. I can recall being at a meeting at the 2008 NHL scouting combine when one of my colleauges asked "Why do we test the bench press?" He then proceeded to tell us that his athletes don't bench press and never will.
You will also here the saying "If he can press a lot of weight off of his chest while laying down, then he probably isn't a good hockey player (or football player or any other sport for that matter)."
The issues that I see with the bench press aren’t that it is an unsafe exercise or it isn't good exercise for athletes. In my opinion, the problems are:
1) It is an easy exercise to perform. Lying on your back and pressing a
barbell off your chest to a locked out position is not that difficult. In comparison to other compound exercises, the bench press doesn't involve that many muscles.
2) It works muscle groups that you can see in the mirror every day. Some athletes are more interested in looking good at the beach then they are at increasing their performance in their sport.
3) It happens to probably be the most popular exercise in all weight rooms and gyms today. The next time that you are in a large commercial gym, count how many flat bench press and
incline benches there are in comparison to squat racks. Or, on any given day, count how many people are bench pressing versus squatting.
As a result, young athletes aren't doing the more difficult exercises in the weight room such as squats, dead lifts, pull ups, etc. They aren't training the muscles that aren't in the mirror such as the upper and lower back, the glutes, and hamstrings. Also, they don’t want to do what other people aren’t doing.
We will bench press once per week during the off-season. Why? Because I think it is a good exercises for developing upper body pushing strength. For a
hockey player, is it as important as lower body strength? Probably not, but I am always looking for ways to improve my athletes total body strength and power. I prescribe the bench press as an exercise in conjunction with many other different exercises for the whole body.
While we are bench pressing once per week, we are also developing strength in the upper back muscles. Exercises such as pull ups, chin ups, inverted rows, and dumbbell rows are used to develop strength in the upper back. We are doing these to help the body stay in structural balance so that that we can stay healthy. We probably actually do more pulling than pressing exercises. I don’t think this is a problem as young hockey players probably have already done enough pressing exercises prior to incorporating pulling exercises.
So, my point is that, if you are not doing enough pulling exercises, and the bench press is the #1 exercise in your program, then you probably shouldn’t be bench pressing. To find out if you are doing enough pulling exercises, simply add up all of the sets and reps of pulling and compare to the total number of pressing sets and reps. If you are pressing more than pulling, then I would think you could be heading for some shoulder problems.
Sean is the owner of Skahan Sports Conditioning in Ham Lake, MN. He is the former Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks where he helped them win the Stanley Cup. To contact Sean, please go to www.SkahanSports.com
Wadena's Grendahl leaves lasting legacy
Legendary coach receives Herb Brooks Award
by BRYAN ZOLLMAN Let’s Play Hockey Publisher
When Wadena’s Bob Grendahl found out he was the recipient of the Herb Brooks Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award, he was moved to tears.
At the time he was dealing with cancer.
“I can tell you he was very grateful and humbled when he heard the news of this honor,” said his son, Robby Grendahl. “He was moved by emotion to tears and overwhelmed to find himself in the company of those who have been honored before him.”
The Herb Brooks Foundation announced the award earlier this summer and presented the award to Robby and his mother, Donna, on Aug. 5 in St. Paul. Bob Grendahl passed away just two weeks prior on July 22.
Like every small-town hockey community, a dedicated group of volunteers takes to task and starts a foundation, brick by brick in hopes of growing the game at the grass roots level. Bob Grendahl was not just one of those early bricklayers, he was the project manager, making sure the foundation was strong and the building blocks continued to be put in place.
Grendahl grew up in southern Minnesota and wasn’t introduced to the game of hockey until he met his future wife, Donna Runger, who hailed from Thief River Falls.
“As he learned about the game of hockey he felt like he had missed out and didn’t want other children to feel that they had missed out on this great game,” Robby said. “He wanted to provide opportunities for those interested in hockey.”
Robby Grendahl delivered a heartfelt speech to those in attendance at the Herb Brooks Foundation event, which centers around the annual golf outing. Grendahl described his father as someone who always put others before self, a trait he also adjoins to the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal team who realized the team was more important than the individual.
“Whenever an athlete is named, they stand alone by name only with the exception of the 1980 Olympic hockey team,” he said. “Team above self. Putting others before self was certainly one of my father’s greatest legacies.”
The elder Grendahl did it all in the Wadena hockey community — coaching, officiating, scheduling, and even flooding the outdoor rink. He worked for a Fortune 500 oil company based in Houston, TX. When he was offered a promotion that would have sent him to the corporate office in Houston, he turned it down.
“He did this so he could continue the work he had started in Wadena,” said Robby.
His biggest interest was providing opportunities for young people in the Wadena community. This helped shape
Wadena coach Bob Grendahl was the recipient of the Herb Brooks Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award.
the lives of countless youth in the city who took to the opportunity that hockey provided and the benefits it brought them.
“Bob was such a kind and giving person,” said Mike Cottrell.
Cottrell was in fourth grade and didn't know how to skate when he was encouraged by Bob to give hockey a try.
“With his encouragement and mentoring he taught and helped so many kids find the love of hockey,” Cottrell said. “Eventually as I got older he took myself and others under his wing and got us involved in refereeing the great sport of hockey. This built confidence in me that I still carry today in life.”
Former Gopher captain Brad Shelstad was the first varsity coach in Wadena with Bob serving as his assistant.
“(Bob) always believed in kids and their ability,” Shelstad said. “He would always say, ‘give him a chance, put him the game. He’ll step up.’ And step up they did!”
Perhaps the greatest testament to Bob Grendahl’s legacy was in 1986 when Robby was diagnosed with a rare heart condition. He spent the summer in and out of the hospital and his hockey career came to an abrupt halt. By the end of August of that year, all treatments were exhausted and Robby was given two days to live unless he received a heart transplant. At the time the University of Minnesota hadn’t performed a heart transplant on anyone as young as Robby, who was 15 years old. Four hours after being put on the national donors list, a heart became available and the surgery
was performed. Five days later he was released from the hospital without much of a playbook to follow.
“Imagine my surprise a few weeks later we were at a clinic appointment and my dad had called a meeting with eight to 10 world class heart transplant surgeons and cardiologists to discuss the potential of playing hockey again,” he said. “He reminded the doctors that the purpose of the surgery was to return to a normal life.”
After much persuasion, doctors conceded with a stern warning of no football. But in three months he was back on the ice and on Jan. 3 he played in a game at Met Center as the first person to play competitive ice hockey after a heart transplant.
“Sometimes you have to rewrite the playbook,” Robby said.
When Robby was young, he remembers his dad saying that “can’t" is not a word he was allowed to use. Robby is now the head coach at Wadena-Deer Creek High School.
“So it is with his legacy that we are working to continue the hockey program at Wadena-Deer Creek High School so that future players can benefit from the many life values our great sport has to offer," Robby said.
Grendahl joins a list of other esteemed youth hockey volunteers who have not just made a difference in their respective communities, but has helped shape the State of Hockey for what it is – the greatest hockey community in the land.
“It has been said that we can only connect the dots of life backwards after we have lived well beyond our youth and as we connect those dots we remember all those people who put others before self so we could have the opportunities we have had,” said Robby. “It is very difficult to make the most of our opportunities without realizing this. Herb Brooks, Bob Grendahl and others as coaches and as people definitely realized this and we were better because they did.”
FILE PHOTO
FILE PHOTO
Robby Grendahl and his mother Donna received their award form the Herb Brooks Foundation this summer. Herb Brooks' children Kelly (far right) and Dan (far left) presented the award at their annual golf outing.
Here I go again on my own?
Callan goes against norm to become star multi-sport athlete
by JOHN CONLEY
Let’s Play Hockey Contributor
Stick taped, skates tied, #2’s eyes glaze over in a pregame trance while his earbuds counteract the Red Knights’ BigXthaPlug pump-up music as he hums along to Whitesnake. “Here I go again on my own…Goin' down the only road I've ever known…”
At least that’s how I envision it, because Carter Callan is a throwback to the days when a star athlete’s favorite sport was whatever is in season and there’s nothing more important than playing for your school. Intense training and specialization are now normal with most high-end high school athletes playing their sport year around. When many other hockey players chose to escape the summer heat inside an ice rink, Callan not only played in the 2024 Minnesota Golf Association Junior championship…he won!
The Golf-Hockey Double
Two generations ago, John Harris starred in the same sports at the University of Minnesota, winning an NCAA championship on a team coached by Herb Brooks and later several golf titles including the 1993 U.S. Amateur and a professional win on the senior PGA Tour. Never common, stories like this are now exceedingly rare. Perusing the leaderboard, the other Top 10 finishers in the State Junior are full-time competitive players from golf families, including:
• cousins whose parents have won PGA Tour events and a USGA championship,
• the son of a local golf professional that recently won the Minnesota Senior Open,
• younger brothers of current Division I golfers, and
• a precocious phenom from out of state who Carter feels is destined, “to play on the PGA Tour one day.”
Family Life
So how did he do it? Asked about role models to look to for figuratively swimming upstream against the strong current encouraging 12-month focus on a single youth activity, Carter immediately parries the question and redirects credit to his mom and dad. “Because they have to do both too,” as sports parents he reasons.
“There’s always a lot going on. Younger brother Cade also competes in junior golf tournaments while playing hockey at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Ultimately, we hoped to put a decent head on the kids’ shoulders with schoolwork still the priority. Carter learned quickly how to manage his time,” says mother Tina. “We never forced the boys to do
anything and tried to figure things out to be supportive when they wanted to try something. Basketball, baseball, soccer… eventually they settled on hockey and golf.”
Life as a Red Knight
Benilde-St. Margaret’s head hockey coach Ken Pauly is full of praise for Carter. “Talk to him for a little bit and you see what a special kid he is. A combination of confidence and humility all at once. He’s such a team guy who excels in the ultimate individual sport.”
How good is he at hockey? “We called him up to Varsity halfway through his sophomore year, by the end of the season he was one of our Top 4 defensemen. He was a key to our success last year (the Red Knights beat both Edina and Chanhassen who met in the finals of the AA state tournament) and is now playing some games in the Elite League
where Coach Mike Craig told me he loves him too.” Past teammates concur. “He’s a great stay at home D and an awesome teammate,” according to goaltender Mason McElroy. Jack Anderson adds, “Callan is a great guy that puts everyone else first and is always willing to help guys out with anything.”
Wise Beyond
His Years
Energetic and jovial, it is obvious Carter has an ability to bloom wherever he’s planted. Mention a name from either the golf or hockey world and his reply begins, “he’s one of my best friends!” Digging deeper, you’ll find that this easygoing high schooler turns serious when play begins.
“I had plastic clubs as soon as I could walk. Around the yard I’d make holes, like to the mailbox. At two years old I cried when my parents pulled me off the range at the course near our
cabin. My first tournament was at 7 or 8 and I realized I can be pretty good at this. It took off from there.
“Hockey started with knee hockey in a relative’s basement which led to skating. Mites started at 5 or 6 years old. It became one of my favorite games. Competitive summer hockey around the time of my first golf tournament, which is when I dropped my other sports.”
One can imagine the Callan activities calendar looks messy. Carter explains how his focus shifts throughout the year. Still full, the calendar at least indicates structure. “January is all hockey with a visit to my golf coach every two weeks in the winter when I am dialed in for hockey. March transitions to golf season…hitting balls indoors and a spring break trip to get in some rounds. 100% golf April through June when the high school season runs. In the summer I try to make team skates while remaining focused on golf. August is back to 100% golf because school hockey stops, then September back to all in on hockey for the rest of the year.”
It's been a winning formula, demonstrated by the Red Knights hockey residing in Top 10 the past two seasons and winning the 2024 Class 3A Boys Golf team title.
Carter believes, “the state high school league has it right. Fall sports end before Winter begins and the same for Spring. There’s no overlap making it accessible for kids to participate in multiple sports,” which cements his status as an old-school throwback even as the state’s coaching association has pushed the high school league for more and longer games.
What’s Next
“Try to go to the Xcel Energy Center for hockey and then win another high school state golf title! I recently committed to the University of South Dakota where I will play Division I golf. I’m excited to see what happens when I put all my eggs in that basket.”
Final Thoughts
“There is always pressure from the system to focus exclusively on just one. Realistically you can have two things if you manage your time. It’s made my life special; I haven’t felt held back in either sport.”
Returning to Whitesnake, Carter Callan keeps hangin’ on the promises of yesterday. He’s made up his mind and ain’t wastin’ no more time. There are pucks to chase and golf balls to bash, accompanied by a normal high school existence at BSM. He’s lovin’ every minute of it. On second thought, maybe it’s Loverboy blasting from those ear buds.
The game will miss you, Johnny Hockey
by JACK BLATHERWICK Let’s Play Hockey Contributor
NHL star John Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were riding their bikes the evening before they were scheduled to be in their sister’s wedding. A drunk driver crashed his SUV into them, killing both on a New Jersey roadway.
Fans called him ‘Johnny Hockey,’ because of his fun, creative, skillful style of play. He lit up the arena. His family, friends, teammates, and coaches called him a dedicated family man, because he lit up their lives.
At 5’9” (maybe) and 163 pounds, John played 11 seasons and 763 NHL games, scoring 243 goals and 500 assists. He never played in a minor league game, going directly to the Calgary Flames after three outstanding years at Boston College where he won the Hobey Baker award and led his team to second place in the NCAA championship. His career ended with the Columbus Blue Jackets after eight electrifying seasons in Calgary.
Because of his size, he wasn’t drafted until the fourth round and 104th pick. That oversight occurred the year he led the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints to win the Clark Cup, as national junior champions.
John’s awards and accomplishments would fill an entire page. But I write for different reasons. First, he had to overcome the counter-intuitive tradition of NHL scouts regarding size. At every level prior to the draft; then for three years in college and eleven years in the NHL, his performance would have logically made him a high first round draft pick. But logic escapes the hockey world when players are not big, no matter how good they are.
Beyond the draft, there are advantages and disadvantages to being tall. Shorter players enjoy some advantages that tall players don’t. Physics tells us that in a contest of agility, (acceleration, deceleration and changes of direction) the person with the lower center of mass should win. Johnny won thousands of those 1-on-1 agility contests in his career.
Secondly, there is a widespread dis-
ease in hockey, in which creative play is discouraged by coaches and media analysts. If you watch any telecast, the experts cannot bring themselves to say the word ‘creativity.’ It’s been replaced by non-stop references to physicality and avoidance of turnovers. If Wayne Gretzky were the commentator, hockey would be a better spectator sport and a lot more fun for youngsters to play.
At the college and pro levels, where won/lost records determine job security, coaches are too fearful to allow risky, creative plays. This shortsighted philosophy is passed along to youth coaches, so we hear the tired phrases over and over: “No turnovers. Take care of the puck. Get it deep. We need to be more physical (because the other team has more goals?). Defense wins games.”
Yes. Defense wins games, so when you don’t have the puck, you play super-hard and smart. But when you do
have the puck, you don’t play defensively, because offense also wins games. Playing without creative playmaking is contrary to everything players dreamed about from the time they first put skates on. To tell them to play defensively when they have the puck rips the very heart out of the fastest game in the world. So, you have produced spiritless robots, not fun-loving, passionate athletes.
If football coaches were to pull into a shell, once their team has a lead - if they no longer throw passes that have a slight chance of being interceptedthey’d lose their job. Instead, they practice dangerous plays over and over, so they become less dangerous. For example, a 5-yard out pattern to the sideline risks much greater consequences (think ‘pick-six’) than a neutral-zone turnover in hockey. However, the trend in hockey is to give up on the practice concept
(repetition makes perfect) and just tell players, “Don’t take chances. Dump it in.”
In the 1980 Olympics, with a onegoal lead over the Soviets in the third period, Herb Brooks could have pulled Team USA into a defensive shell. Instead he repeated over and over, “Play your game!” The result of that aggressiveness was the Gold medal, commonly mis-represented as a ‘miracle.’
If John Gaudreau had not been encouraged by coaches to contribute his spirit and creativity to our sport, that loss would have been felt down through every amateur level. We are simply giving lip service to the concept of skill development if we practice skills, but do not allow young players to experiment with creative skills in games. Consequently, there are too few players allowed to carry that Johnny Hockey, fun-loving torch.
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Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed in a bicycle accident leaving behind a legacy of fun, creative hockey.
Darwitz, Wendell inducted to Hall of Fame
Former college teammates helped pave way for girls hockey in Minnesota
Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell have put the State of Hockey on the map in Toronto becoming the first female hockey players from Minnesota to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Their illustrious careers began when girls hockey in Minnesota was it its infancy, yet their skill and the heights they reached helped pave the way for girls throughout the state by sending a strong message that girls can not just play hockey, but can play it at the highest level.
After their unbelievable high school careers they became teammates at the University of Minnesota where they continued to dazzle fans and put up astronomical numbers. They both play internationally for Team USA and have been great ambassadors for girls hockey in Minnesota.
Just like they helped paved the way for the popularity of girls hockey in Minnesota, they will likely pave the way for more Minnesotans to one day be enshrined in hockey's greatest hall.
In a life devoted to hockey, first as a player followed by a career as an executive, Natalie Darwitz has contributed significantly to the growth of women’s hockey.
Born October 13, 1983, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, Darwitz grew up in Eagan, Minnesota and started skating at age five. She went on to play four years of high school hockey in Eagan, collecting an astonishing 468 points and while in high school, twice represented the United States at the World Championships, capturing Silver Medals in 1999 and 2000. Through her playing career, Darwitz and Team USA won Gold Medals in 2005, 2008 and 2009 plus Silver Medals in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2007. In 2007, she was named one of the top three players on Team USA and was selected to the IIHF All-Star Team. In 2008, after scoring 6 goals, 4 assists and 10 points, Natalie was voted Best Forward in the tournament and was named to the All-Star Team. She was selected for the All-Star Team again in 2009 after leading all players in the tournament with seven assists.
Natalie represented the USA at the Winter Olympic Games on three occasions. At the 2002 Olympics, Darwitz led the tournament with seven goals and was named to the Olympic All-Star Team. The USA took the Silver Medal that year, winning Bronze at the 2006 Olympics and an-
other Silver Medal in 2010.
At the Four Nations Cup, Natalie and Team USA twice won Gold Medals and received the Silver on eight other occasions.
Darwitz played three years of university hockey at the University of Minnesota. In 2002-03, she was a First Team NCAA Women All-American and a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award as NCAA Top Female Collegiate Player. In 2003-04, she was a member of the Women’s NCAA Champion team while playing with the University of Minnesota, was voted to the NCAA Second Team All-American and again was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. In 2004-05, her final year at the University of Minnesota, Natalie recorded 114 points on 42 goals and 72 assists and was an amazing +72 that season as the Uni-
versity of Minnesota won its second consecutive NCAA Championship. Darwitz was an NCAA First Team All-American, won the Bob Allen – Women’s Player of the Year Award presented by USA Hockey and for a third consecutive season, was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.
In 2006-07 and 2007-08, Darwitz played for the Minnesota Whitecaps in the Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL). She was asked to join the University of Minnesota’s coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2008.
After the 2010 Winter Olympics, Natalie Darwitz retired from playing and turned full-time to coaching. In August 2011, she was named Head Coach of the Lakeville South High School Girls Hockey Team and in 2015, she joined the Hamline University Women’s Hockey Team
as Head Coach, a position she held for six seasons in which the team made one Frozen Four appearance. In 2021, Darwitz was named assistant coach of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and two years later, she was named co-coach of the Hill-Murray Women’s Hockey Team. In the fall of 2023, Natalie Darwitz was named General Manager of the PWHL Minnesota franchise, and went on to defeat the Boston franchise in the final to win the inaugural Walter Cup championship.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inducted Natalie in 2019, and in 2024, she was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category.
Team USA teammates Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame together.
Minnesota leads the way with 8 players on Junior National Team
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.USA Hockey today named 28 players to the preliminary roster of its 2025 U.S. National Junior Team. The group, which includes 10 members of the gold medal-winning 2024 U.S. National Junior Team, will convene for a training camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., from Dec. 16-17.
Eight of those players are from Minnesota, including: Logan Hensler (Woodbury/University of Wisconsin), Colin Ralph (Maple Grove/St. Cloud State University), Adam Kleber (Chaska/University of Minnesota-Duluth), Oliver Moore (Mounds View/ University of Minnesota), Danny Nelson (Maple Grove/University of Notre Dame), Austin Burnevik (Blaine/St. Cloud State University), Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson/University of Minnesota), and Hamptom Slukynsky (Warroad/ Western Michigan University).
Minnesota Wild first round pick Zeev Buium (University of Denver) is also on the roster.
Players are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario.
"We've got an excellent group of players coming to our camp," said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "It's never easy to narrow it down and that's a credit to so many who have helped in developing our players, including first and foremost those part of our grassroots infrastructure across the country."
The 28 players – including three goaltenders, 10 defensemen and 15 for-
that domino falls, the others will follow. If Bob Motzko says he’s gonna stick with mainly Minnesota kids while Luke Strand is plucking kids out of the CHL and winning, you best bet that Motzko and company will have to follow. It’s a lot like fishing --- once you see a conglomerate of boats in a spot, you aren’t too hard pressed to join them because, well, they must be on to something.
So what does this mean for the American player? The Minnesota player?
It means the room got a lot more crowded and the 249 number of Division I players is likely to drop, maybe smallish at first, but more considerably down the road. If you’re a 9-inch fish, you’d get returned to the lake for the 1112 incher.
That’s not saying the CHL players will outduel our Minnesota or American kids at every turn. Like Minnesota against other states, the CHL doubles up on players listed in the NHL Central Scouting compared against the USHL and NTDP programs. The fact is the CHL produces quality players and the NHL draft says so. College coaches having access to these players is a GAME CHANGER. Make no mistake. This isn’t a one-way street where CHL kids are calling college coaches seeking an education. It will turn into college coaches being
wards – come from 11 different states. Minnesota leads the way with eight representatives. A total of 24 have been drafted by NHL teams, including seven first-round and seven second-round selections.
NHL Network is the exclusive home of the IIHF World Junior Championship in the United States and will air every Team USA game in addition to many others, including all quarterfinal, semifinal and medal games. E.J. Hradek, Dave Starman and Jon Rosen will call all U.S. contests.
The final U.S. roster is expected to be announced by Dec. 24. Team USA has medaled in seven of the last nine IIHF World Junior Championships, including earning gold in the 2024 event.
NOTES: A total of 19 players have played at least one game as part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, including 17 as full-time members of the two-year residency program. The NTDP plays in the USHL, the only Tier I junior league in the U.S. ... Of the 28 players, 23 are playing NCAA Division I men's hockey with four currently competing in the OHL and one in the WHL. Boston College leads NCAA programs with six players on the preliminary roster ... The U.S. training camp in Plymouth, Mich., is open to the public. One practice will be held each day, beginning at 11 a.m. ET ... All members of the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team's coaching staff return, as David Carle (University of Denver/Anchorage, Alaska) serves as the head coach of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team. Steve Miller (University of Minnesota/Sun Prairie, Wis.), Brett Larson (St. Cloud State University/Duluth, Minn.) and Garrett Raboin(Augustana University/
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOPHERSPORTS.COM
Oliver Moore (Mounds View) is one of eight Minnesotans named tot he U.S. National Team preliminary roster. He is also one of seven first-round draft picks on the roster.
Detroit Lakes, Minn.) will return as assistant coaches, with David Lassonde (USA Hockey/Durham, N.H.) acting as goaltending coach ... Team USA is in Group A and will play preliminary
COLLEGE
Continued from page 24
With the influx of all these players, college hockey is going to be busting at the seams and really good hockey players are not going to be able to play college hockey.
forced to recruit CHL kids and dangling the carrot of an education and four more years of hockey in hopes of them competing for a national title and holding onto their jobs.
Where does that leave the USHL and NAHL?
They will continue to be strong development leagues and the American option. I don’t anticipate Minnesota or American kids trying to defect to the CHL for a better opportunity. Scouts will find a player, wherever he may be, and yes, even playing in high school (the best place to be) will get the desirable eyeballs.
The best players will always rise to the top and get the opportunities. The addition of the CHL doesn’t change that, but it does change the pool of players college coaches can choose from.
Going back to fishing, there’s a limit and you can only keep so many. The rest get thrown back in the lake to develop more in hopes that one day they, too,
will end up in the net.
Thankfully Minnesota has a strong Division III platform with the MIAC. Next door the WIAC also provides opportunities for kids to continue playing hockey while receiving an education. Both of those institutions are about to get a lot better talent wise.
Then again, the net can only fill so many.
Which is why we need more college hockey program around the country. Recently Augustana, South Dakota launched a Division I program. If it can happen there, why can’t it happen in places like UNLV, University of Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Washington State, UCLA, USC, San Diego State, etc.
Hockey is growing in the southern sphere of the states, and the Midwest has to keep up with the demand that our high schools and junior programs are providing. Iowa has the infrastructure and the
round games against Finland, Canada, Latvia and Germany. Group B includes Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan.
Minnesota Wild minor league affiliate. Hockey needs to grow more there!
The argument is that hockey infrastructure is expensive. Building arenas that don’t make money is a hard proposition. Each of the cities mentioned above would have to find a deep-pocket donor to lead the charge with a vision of what it would mean for their community and the businesses that look to benefit.
Could the NHL get involved in a grass roots effort to grow college hockey in some of these areas that would ultimately increase their fan base? My experience is that most people who are introduced to the game either love playing it or watching it. But they need to see it. They need to catch that first fish and feel the tug on the line.
Fans don’t care if they are watching Canadian kids, American kids or Minnesota kids. They want to watch good hockey. With the addition of CHL players the on-ice product will get better – at all levels. This is good for hockey.
But with the influx of all these players, college hockey is going to be busting at the seams and really good hockey players are not going to be able to play college hockey.
The fishing will be great.
But college hockey is gonna need a bigger boat.
PWHL's Frost set for another title run
Minnesota looks to defend Walter Cup
St. Paul, MN (October 15, 2024) – The Professional Women's Hockey League's Minnesota Frost will begin their defense of the Walter Cup when they host the New York Sirens on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5:00 p.m. CT as part of an expanded, 30-game schedule.
Following the holiday weekend opener against the Sirens at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the Frost will revisit their playoff rivals in Boston (Dec. 4) and Toronto (Dec. 7) when they embark on an early season, two-game road trip.
The longest homestand of the season for the Frost will span four games over 12 days in late December and early January when they host Montreal, Boston (2X) and New York.
The road will be the Frost's home for a week in February when they visit Toronto, Ottawa, Boston and Montreal over the span of eight days, marking the longest trip of the campaign.
The season will also feature three International Breaks to accommodate national team play, including a three-week break from April 3-25 for the IIHF Women's World Championship being held in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
"It will be so exciting to see this team hit the ice for the first time as the Minnesota Frost in December," said Frost General Manager Melissa Caruso. "The bar has been set high for our returning core and new skaters as we get ready to defend the Walter Cup. I'm looking forward to seeing the State of Hockey turn up at the Xcel Energy Center this season and all the great fans throughout the league as we continue to grow the PWHL - we are all excited to see what season two brings!"
"Every team in the league got better in the off-season," said Frost Head Coach Ken Klee. "That makes defending our title that much harder. It's great to see the path we're going to take, and I can't wait to get back to Xcel Energy Center in front of our fans on December 1
Sunday Dec. 1
Dec. 4
MINNESOTA FROST 2024-25 SCHEDULE
Dec. 7 at
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Dec. 19
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Dec. 28
Jan. 2
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Jan. 15 at
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Jan. 28
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Sunday Mar. 30
Thursday Apr. 3
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Wednesday Apr. 30 at
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October 15, 2024
Non-primary venue gamesalong with broadcast and streaming information - will be announced at a future date. The 2024-25 Minnesota Frost season schedule is available online.
Minnesota fans can purchase Season-Ticket Memberships now at the Frost website. A limited number of half-season ticket packages will be available on Oct. 17. and single-game tickets will be on sale Nov. 1. To stay up to date on the
Game times and dates subject to change.
latest ticketing information, including half-season ticket packages, fans can sign up for the Minnesota Frost newsletter, The Drop, here. ABOUT
MINNESOTA FROST
Minnesota Frost is one of six teams in the newly launched Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), which was founded in 2023. The PWHL began its inaugural season in January 2024 and features the best women's hockey
players in the world. The PWHL has broken multiple attendance records and holds the worldwide record for a women's hockey game. For the latest news and information on Minnesota Frost, visit minnesota.thepwhl.com or follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
